One of British Columbia’s most renowned — and most eerie — tourist spots, the Royal London Wax Museum, permanently closed its doors in 2010. Located in Victoria’s picturesque Inner Harbour, it had been a staple attraction for 50 years.
Following the museum’s closure, Ken Lane, who served as the museum’s general manager for more than three decades, retained many of the wax figures in his climate-controlled basement.
He houses over 300 of history’s most notable figures, including the city’s namesake, Queen Victoria, but he has been looking to sell the collection, with each figure priced at over $20,000.
On the Facebook group Old Victoria BC (a dedicated page to sharing old photos of Victoria), commenters shared their fond memories (and nightmares) of the old wax museum.
“My mother use to clean the wax museum at night,” said Louisa Curvelo “… if I had been acting up as a teenager she would make me go to work with her there! [One time], I was left in the chamber of horrors one evening.”
“I started as a guide and loved talking about Henry VIII and his wives and have been interested in English royal history ever since,” said Lucille Campbell. “[I] used to sit in the Jack and the Beanstalk exhibit and pretend to be a wax figure.”
It’s an exhibit that holds a lot of memories for people who grew up in Victoria.
So, take a stroll down memory lane below with some of the most iconic, or infamous, wax figures:
Sports legends Babe Ruth (left) and Gordie Howe (right)/Greater Vancouver Parks
Canadian icon Terry Fox (left) and Marilyn Monroe (right)/Greater Vancouver Parks
Walt Disney (left) and John Wayne (right)/Greater Vancouver Parks
Queen Victoria (right)/Ted Czolowski/Old Victoria BC
Do you have any fond memories or photos from the Royal London Wax Museum? Share them with us by email: [email protected]