Located on 234 W 42nd Street in the heart of New York City’s bustling Times Square district, Madame Tussauds New York is a must-see for any visitor to the Big Apple.
Madame Tussauds, which was established by wax sculptor Marie Tussaud, is currently managed by Merlin Entertainments, a British firm. On November 15, 2000, the New York City site of Madame Tussauds first opened to the public.
What Is Madame Tussauds
Unique among tourist destinations, Madame Tussauds boasts a collection of magnificent wax sculptures of famous people past and present. However, it’s an expensive family outing considering how long you’ll be there but it’s still a good thing to cross off your list if you’re in New York.
The Tussauds shop also hosts themed open houses, so you can see what all the hype is about and what other people are looking for. You can also see what they’re currently offering in their new line of wax museum exhibits, which is great!
When To Visit Madame Tussauds New York
If you can, visit as soon as it opens at 10am so you get round before the throng gathers or later in the afternoon when things start to calm down. On Wednesdays, Thursdays and Sundays before 11 a.m, Madame Tussauds is less crowded than most other times.
How Long Should I Stay At Madame Tussauds
Visits to Madame Tussauds don’t require a full day, as even the most leisurely of visitors may see all the wax figures in under a few hours and although there are hundreds of wax figurines in Madame Tussauds around the world, not all of them are housed in New York.
Is Madame Tussauds New York Worth Visiting
A visit to Madame Tussauds is a must for anyone visiting New York because it is unlike anything else in the world and when viewed up close, each of the waxworks really are a work of art.
In fact, I personally think it’s more fun to visit this site without kids so that you can take your time looking at the life sized figures of famous historical figures, leaders and celebrities. However, if you’re travelling with kids, it’s sure to be a once-in-a-lifetime event and if you pair it with another new York attraction or two, you’ll have a wonderful day out.
How Many Wax Figures Are In Madame Tussauds New York
Madame Tussauds in New York City has over 220 incredibly lifelike wax figures of the most famous Hollywood stars and icons from all forms of entertainment, sports and history from around the world.
What Are The Queues Like At Madame Tussauds New York
Even though there are often large lines to get in, you may pick your own entry time (15-minute intervals) when you buy tickets online but even though there were employees standing ready to direct people to the various areas, the maze of lines was disorienting.
If saving time is more valuable to you than saving money, you can purchase fast-entry tickets which have clear directions to follow, so getting around wasn’t a problem.
What Are The Opening And Closing Times Of Madame Tussauds New York
You can visit Madame Tussauds 10am until 8pm every day of the week. During peak season and holidays, it sometimes stays open until 10pm on Fridays and Saturdays.
Who Are Some Of The Most Famous People On Display
We know that Madame Tussauds is famous for it’s celebrities, movie stars and historical figures, so there is an entire section dedicated to people from all current and past generations like Marilyn Monroe, Oprah, Jennifer Lopez, Audrey Hepburn, Sean Connery, Charlie Chaplin, The Beatles, Einstein, Picasso and Michael Jackson as well as many others.
Who Owns Madame Tussauds
Madame Tussauds was sold to Dubai International Capital for £800m ($1.5bn) in 2005 but the Blackstone Group paid Dubai International Capital $1.9 billion in May 2007 to acquire The Tussauds Group, which it then merged with Blackstone’s Merlin Entertainments and handed over operation of Madame Tussauds to.
To help fund the purchase of Madame Tussauds, Merlin entered into a sale-and-leaseback arrangement with private investor Nick Leslau and his investment firm Prestbury on July 17, 2007. The attractions themselves are owned by Prestbury, however Merlin has a 35-year lease to use the properties for operating purposes.
The Wax Museum of Madame Tussauds was a huge success and brought in millions of visitors to it’s first location in London. The London Planetarium was housed in the building’s west wing up until 2010 with the Spirit of London, a massive animated dark ride, first introduced to the public in 1993.
Wax figures of prominent people from all walks of life from royalty and the entertainment industry to athletes and even notorious killers can be found at the modern Tussauds museums all over the world.
Controversy At Madame Tussauds
A 41-year-old German man pushed past two guards and severed the head of an Adolf Hitler wax figure at the Berlin location of Madame Tussauds in July 2008.
This was interpreted as a statement against photos that included the brutal tyrant with famous athletes, actors and politicians. The monument has been fixed and the attacker confessed that he did it to win a bet.
The first Hitler wax figure was exhibited in London’s Madame Tussauds in April 1933 but it was vandalised so often that its replacement in 1936 required 24-hour security.
After an open letter by an editor at The Jewish Journal of Greater Los Angeles and widespread online support for the removal of an Adolf Hitler statue from the London museum’s Chamber of Horrors exhibit, the statue was finally taken down in January 2016.