The Palace of Wax Museum and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Study Guide

Welcome to The Palace of Wax and Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Study Guide. We hope that you will find information to assist you in making your visit more valuable for your class. Many of the sights you will see are included herein and have been divided into areas of study with suggestions for projects along with activities to be implemented before your visit or as a follow-up of your visit. As you will note, the suggestions can be adapted to many age levels.

Please also note, we have marked many activities for participation in our "$$ Cash Prize" program. We suggest having your own classroom contest, then enter your winner to compete with other schools’ entries. These entries will be judged and an overall winner will be awarded in May 2002. We are looking for students who are interested in going the "extra mile" to expand their mind and imaginations. If you have other ideas or questions please call us at 972-263-2391 X108, or email gpstudents@classicattractions.com.

Palace of Wax Museum

Many classroom-related subjects are represented within the Palace of Wax Museum. Listed below are some of these categories. We are sure that you will find many other ideas as well.

ART

Wax Artist a Member of an Elite Profession

Sonya Vasquez spends her days surrounded by people who never talk to her. However, she never lets this bother her, you see, as they are all wax figures she has created.

Ms. Vasquez, in her mid-twenties, is the wax artist for the Palace of Wax in Grand Prairie and the Plaza Wax Museum in San Antonio, Texas. She is the only fulltime wax sculptor in Texas, and among a very small number in the entire world. She enjoys creating figures for guests visiting the museums to see.

A wax figure takes a minimum of 6–8 weeks to complete, and is valued at approximately $6,000 or more. The steps to making a new figure are:

1. Research: collection of hundreds of photos and videos of subject. Research includes size of person, body language, color of skin, hair, and eyes.
2. Sculpting: This is the most crucial step, which begins with a block of clay. The capture of facial expressions is very important, as the details must be exact in measurement and placement. Normally the neck and head are the only parts sculpted from clay.
3. Making a plaster mold: A mold is next made of plaster using the clay sculpting.
4. Completing the figure: Melted wax is then poured into the mold. After allowing time to set up, the wax bust is taken out of the mold and the completion details begin. Prosthesis glass eyes are inserted, human hair is plunged into the wax head one at a time, dental implant teeth are inserted, and the painting of the skin tones and special effects are begun.
5. The hands and arms are made by making a life-cast of a real person with similar features of the figure. Then wax is poured same way as the head.
6. The body is often begun using a fiberglass framework and adjusted to duplicate the person’s body type.
7. Costumes are completed by a costume designer who takes great detail in researching the authenticity of the clothing. This is especially true of historical figures.

Research / Assignment Suggestions:

The history and art of wax figures. The history of how they began is quite fascinating. Research and write an essay. Choose a person you admire and proceed through the steps of making a wax bust sculpture. Record your process and take photos of each step. $$ Cash Prize Opportunity: Send photos and written diary of process upon completion. Entries will be eligible for judging and awarding of cash prizes in May.

HISTORY / SOCIAL STUDIES

"The United States Presidents"
This section, a display of 42 president standing shoulder to is shoulder, is an amazing, inspirational visual display.

	Research / Assignment Suggestions:
	Who’s your favorite president and why? If George W. Bush is the 43rd president, why are there only 42 presidents? This is an unbelievable opportunity for students to get an up-close encounter with all of the presidents, with many opportunities for research. $$ Cash Prize Opportunity: Compose and illustrate an essay entitled "If I Were President". Submit photocopy of class winner.

"Freedom's Journey"
A historical journey of our nation’s struggle for freedom by the "Rule of Law", beginning with the Magna Carta, continuing with The Constitution of the United States, the Surrender of Appomattox, the Emancipation Proclamation, and concluding with the Civil Rights Movement.

Figures and events represented are:

• Magna Carta:
  • King John I
  • Soldiers of King John’s military forces
• The Constitution of the United States (signing of):
  • James Madison
  • Thomas Jefferson
  • George Washington
  • John Adams
  • Benjamin Franklin
• The Surrender of Appomattox:
  • Ulysses S. Grant
  • Robert E. Lee
  • "Stonewall" Jackson
  • Jefferson Davis
  • Confederate Soldier
  • Union Soldier
• Abraham Lincoln (The Emancipation Proclamation)
• Martin Luther King Jr. (Civil Rights Movement)

Research / Assignment Suggestions:

What does "The Rule of Law" mean? How did the above documents help establish this law. Why is it so important? How has it helped, as well as caused conflict in our history? Assign different documents / historical figures to students. Study the documents and how they have affected our country’s "Road to Freedom". Research the signing of the Constitution. Where was it signed? Who signed it? How were these individuals selected? Research interesting facts about the people present, (Did you know James Madison was known as the "Father of the Constitution"/ - Why?) Many high-profiled people were in attendance; however, many were not so well known. Research these contributors and their backgrounds. $$ Cash Prize Opportunity: Recreate the signing of "The Constitution of the United States of America" by writing speeches, holding debates, making costumes, etc. An interesting concept would be to take the basic rights and apply them to our world today. How has it made our country better? What struggles has it created? What would our country be like if we did not have this document? Submit photos, photocopies or a copy of a video. The Civil War was a very dark time in our country’s history. What was the war about? Did it succeed in solving the disagreements of the North & South? Many hardships were endured during this period. Study the war’s affect on people who were not directly involved in fighting the battles. What was family life like during this period, both in the North and South? Compose an illustrated book on slavery life during this period; or for creative writing, develop a fictitious family and describe life as a slave and what happened when they were freed. Submit photos/photocopy of class winner. Study the flags flown during the Civil War period. Why is there such bitterness among some people today toward the Confederate flag? What are the different opinions? How would you solve this conflict? Submit photocopy of class winner. President Lincoln signed the "Emancipation Proclamation". How did this affect the people involved? How were the slaves treated? How did they feel about their freedom? Submit photocopy of winning essay. Martin Luther King Jr. gave the famous "I Have a Dream" speech. Read this speech. Write about what it means to you and how it has affected the people of the United States. Write and illustrate your own "I Have a Dream" speech. What would you "dream" to make our country a better place to live? Submit copy of winning essay.

"Heroes and Villains of America’s Wild Frontier"
The history of our country during the frontier days was fascinating. As with any other era, there were heroes as well as villains. Included in this section are collections of barbed wire and arrowheads. Below are the figures representing this era:

Research / Assignment Suggestions:

Research the figures represented. Which ones were heroes, which villains and why? $$ Cash Prize Opportunity: The story of "Buffalo Bill’s Wild West Show" is very interesting. Do a re-creation of your class’ version of the great show, OR do a modern version of such a show displaying talents of today. Submit a video. Research the history of barbed wire. When and why was it invented? There are hundreds of types. The collection displayed contains over 320 different types with names. Do a notebook of the history with drawings of as many different design types and uses as possible. Submit photocopy of class winner. Arrowheads were used mainly by what people? What were they used for? How were they made? Why are there so many different sizes and shapes? Make a notebook of facts and drawings of different types. Submit copy of winning notebook. Another interesting research would be brands. These were used in conjunction with the development of individualized types of barbed wire. Submit copy of winning notebook.

"The Spirit of Man"
This section depicts the evil as well as the positive spirit of many people who have influenced our society. The representation of wax figures is listed below:

Research / Assignment Suggestions:

Each of these people influenced our society of today. This is a great opportunity to research the personality along with the results of their influence on the world in their time period, as well as today’s world. How would our society be different if these had not lived to influence our world? $$ Cash Prize Opportunity: Many world events have happened since these figures have been completed. Compile a notebook along with illustrations including persons you think should be included in the "Spirit of Man" section. Show background, their influence on society (good or evil) and why you feel they deserve recognition. Submit copy of class’ winning notebook.

LITERATURE / CLASSIC TALES

"The World of Make Believe"
Classic children’s stories are an important part of growing up and become a reminder of our childhood no matter how old we get. Listed below are the figures found in this great section:

Research / Assignment Suggestions:

Reread the stories; study the messages or life lessons given with each story. $$ Cash Prize Opportunity: Recreate the stories by making costumes, learning songs, etc. Submit Video Rewrite one of these classic tales to make it a modern version. Teacher select best versions and submit copy for consideration. Compose a written modern version of a children’s story with illustrations. Submit class winner.

RIPLEY’S BELIEVE IT OR NOT!

Robert Ripley’s life was an unbelievable adventure. For over forty years, he explored the uncanny and witnessed the amazing. He was an artist, a writer, a professional baseball player, an explorer and a collector. He loved to travel the world and visit with interesting people and learn of their unusual customs and lifestyles. Born on Christmas Day in 1893, he became the modern day Marco Polo. Today, his love of the unusual is still alive in the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! museums around the world. Each museum is unique in its collections of the strange and beautiful.

A visit to Ripley’s Believe It or Not! opens the mind to many different cultures and amazing thought-provoking collections.

Art is represented in many forms throughout the museums.

Included are:

• Wooden chain measuring 364’ long, carved from a single board.
• Jewelry: many unusual materials used to make jewelry, including boars tusks and dog’s teeth.
• Potato chip art: Acrylic paintings on potato chips
• Toaster Art: An actual replica of Jean Francois Mullet’s "The Angelus" formed by pieces of toasted bread.
• Pecan Art: Pecans painted and combined to make art pieces including Mickey & Minnie Mouse, Snoopy and Robert Ripley.
• Rattlesnake Art: A map of Texas done entirely of rattles collected from rattlesnakes.
• Popcorn Art: Pieces of popcorn with unusual shapes painted to create different objects.
• Coin art: Abe Lincoln’s log cabin constructed from uncirculated pennies.
• Junk Art: A family constructed from bits and pieces of unusual items.
• A painting of "The Last Supper" made of postage stamps.

	Research / Assignment Suggestions:
	Research different periods of artwork, famous artists, unusual artists and unusual materials used. $$ Cash Prize Opportunity: Use your imagination to create an unusual piece of art from ordinary or unusual materials. Submit photographs with descriptions. Create a replica of the Palace of Wax Building from unusual items. Submit photographs.

Animals

Many interesting and unusual animal stories / examples are displayed.

• Sharks are a fascination with many. Did you know sharks have more than one brain or that they can see better in the dark than a cat, or they grow as many as 20,000 teeth in a lifetime? Find out how fast can they swim. Visit our interactive display of the "Shark Survival Challenge" and test your shark knowledge.
• A two-body, one-head calf.
• A cat with two faces.
• A goose with no feet. His owner had special tennis shoes made so that he could walk.

	Research / Assignment Suggestions:
	Develop an illustrated notebook on sharks – unusual facts, different types of habitats, etc.

Music

Don’t miss the Laser Harp: strings made of laser beams, actually can play music.

Curious Social / Cultural Customs

	Research / Assignment Suggestions:
	Many unusual customs are practiced in civilizations of the past as well as today. Study these. Think about our society today and how other societies (current and future) perceive our customs. This could be a fun look at how we are perceived by other generations even today.

Natural Disasters

Below are two natural disasters simulated in Ripley’s:

	Research / Assignment Suggestions:
	Natural disasters occur around the world. Certain areas are prone to certain disasters. Research different disasters, possibly ones that have occurred in Texas, showing in what area they occurred, the destruction that was caused, what precautions can be taken, and any unusual stories arising from the event.

Human Oddities

Robert Wadlow: World’s tallest man; 8’11" tall, wore size 25 ring, size 37AA shoe, weighed 440 lbs.

Many people have strange talents. Can you roll your tongue?

Man with double pupils (Would he see double? Would he know the difference?)

Human unicorn: man with actual horn growing from his head.

Lighthouse Man. A candle was placed inside a hole in his head and held in place with melted wax.

Thaipusam: Stress discipline inspired by ancient Hindu ceremony. Videos of Human Mobile.

Texas’ Oddest Laugh Contest: A contest held in the spring for the best laugh in Texas! Cash prize plus instant fame with media. Call for details.

	Research / Assignment Suggestions: $$ Cash Prize Opportunity:
	Send video of the unusual talents of your group or individual. Enter our Laugh Contest. Send video or audiotape.

When visiting the San Antonio area, see:
The Plaza Wax Museum and Ripley's Believe It or Not!
Across From The Alamo! phone: 210-224-9299

A division of Classic Attractions, Inc.
Ripley's Believe It or Not! trademarks owned by Ripley Entertainment Inc.