7 Cursed Objects in Museums That Bring Bad Luck
- Why is a Raggedy Ann doll locked in a holy glass case with a “Warning: Do Not Open” sign?
- Did a blue diamond kill its owners, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette?
- Can a simple wine cabinet cause strokes and hair loss to anyone who opens it?
Museums are usually places of quiet reflection. But some glass cases hold more than just history; they hold malice. Throughout history, certain artifacts have been blamed for streaks of bad luck, mysterious illnesses, and even death.
Whether you believe in curses or coincidence, the owners of these items certainly suffered. Here are 7 cursed objects that you can actually visit—if you dare.
1. The Annabelle Doll
Forget the porcelain doll from the movies; the real Annabelle is a Raggedy Ann doll. According to paranormal investigators Ed and Lorraine Warren, the doll was possessed by an inhuman spirit that terrorized a pair of nurses in the 1970s. It currently sits in the (now closed) Warren’s Occult Museum in Connecticut, locked behind a glass case blessed by a priest. Visitors who mocked the doll reportedly suffered fatal motorcycle accidents shortly after leaving.
2. The Hope Diamond
One of the most famous jewels in the world, the Hope Diamond is said to carry a deadly curse. Legend says it was stolen from the eye of a sculpted idol in India. Its owners, including King Louis XVI and Marie Antoinette (beheaded) and heiress Evalyn Walsh McLean (whose family suffered suicides and accidents), faced terrible fates. Today, it sits safely in the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History, apparently dormant.
3. Robert the Doll
Before Annabelle, there was Robert. Given to a Key West artist named Robert Eugene Otto in 1904, the doll was allegedly cursed by a vengeful servant. Neighbors claimed to see the doll moving in windows. Today, Robert lives at the Fort East Martello Museum in Florida. Visitors must ask his permission before taking a photo. Those who don’t reportedly receive letters months later apologizing to Robert for the string of bad luck they encountered.
4. The Dybbuk Box
This wine cabinet gained fame on eBay in the early 2000s. The seller claimed it contained a “Dybbuk” (a malicious spirit from Jewish folklore). Subsequent owners reported terrifying nightmares, the smell of cat urine, and immediate health problems like strokes and hair loss. It is now housed in Zak Bagans’ Haunted Museum in Las Vegas, where it remains sealed shut.
5. The “Unlucky Mummy”
Located in the British Museum, this artifact (actually a coffin lid, not a mummy) is blamed for everything from the sinking of the Titanic to the start of World War I. While these grand claims are urban legends debunked by the British Museum, early owners did experience accidents and financial ruin, fueling the Victorian obsession with Egyptian curses.
6. The Busby Stoop Chair
Thomas Busby was a murderer hanged in 1702. Before his death, he cursed his favorite chair at a local pub, saying death would come to anyone who sat in it. During World War II, airmen who sat in it allegedly never returned from missions. In the 1970s, two fatal accidents were linked to the chair. The landlord finally donated it to the Thirsk Museum, where it is hung from the ceiling so no one can ever sit in it again.
7. Ötzi the Iceman
Discovered in the Alps in 1991, this 5,300-year-old mummy is a scientific marvel. However, within years of his discovery, seven people linked to him died prematurely. This included the hiker who found him (fell off a cliff), the forensic pathologist who examined him (car crash), and the guide who led the expedition (avalanche). He is now displayed at the South Tyrol Museum of Archaeology in Italy.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Where is the real Annabelle doll?
The real doll was kept in the Warrens’ Occult Museum in Monroe, Connecticut. The museum closed due to zoning issues, and the artifacts are currently in the possession of the Warren family estate.
Is the Hope Diamond curse real?
Scientifically, no. Since the Smithsonian acquired the diamond in 1958, it has brought nothing but prestige and millions of visitors to the museum, suggesting the “curse” ended (or never existed).
Can I visit Robert the Doll?
Yes, Robert is a major attraction at the Fort East Martello Museum in Key West, Florida. Just remember to be polite and ask permission before taking a picture.
