(1860-1927)
A closer view of the figure.
This shot from the National Historical Wax Museum highlights the famous Aaron Burr (1756-1836) versus Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804) duel on July 11th 1804. Here we see the two men preparing for the deadly event that took the life of Hamilton. Aaron Burr is on the left, while Hamilton stands on the right. In the center is Judge Nathaniel Pendleton (1756-1821).
A close up of Aaron Burr holding his pistol.
Alexander Hamilton, the man who was challenged to the duel, and who died the next day from a gunshot wound.
Nathaniel Pendleton, Hamilton's second, holding the weapons of choice.
Here, in the National Historical Wax Museum, we see a typical western scene. A saloon girl watches as two men come down the stairs, observing what looks to be a disagreement about a poker game. The scene is very alive, and the characters have excellent expressions on their faces. This is just a terrific tableau.
What great detail on the female figure! For some reason women are hard to sculpt in wax, but they did a great job with this one.
Uh oh, the men have their guns drawn! It looks like this is getting out of hand.
The men at the table. Unfortunately, wax museums offer only a static glimpse into the worlds that their scenes recreate. We can never know how this scene plays out. (However, this is the National Historical Wax Museum, so this scene may be based on an actual event. I just don't have any information about it.
"The tableau shows a Chicago gangster killing typical of the Capone era. One gang member is shown being ambushed by the paid killer of a rival 'Mob'."
This shot of the killer shows the fierce savagery of the gangster era. Not any particular gangster, this man kills the other mobster as a message to another gang. His expression says it all, and the way his facial features highlight his rage, it's a good thing the prohibition era is long over.
Though not an innocent character, this man looks as if he is. In reality, he was probably some lackey who was expendable to his mob. Not that his death here won't garner another endless string of retaliation after retaliation.
(1841-1935)
This close up highlights the big mustache which is usually associated with Nineteenth Century culture. The museum did a wonderful job on the figure. Holmes actually has a style that looks good as a wax figure.
With all of the hoopla over the recent announcement by Madame Tussaud's that they will open a new wax museum in Washington D.C., I thought that I would do another post on the defucnt National Historical Wax Museum. The museum opened in 1958 and housed many wax figures of important Americans in historically significant sets. Tussaud's tries to focus their displays based on the museum's location, but the National Historical Wax Museum had already done that fifty years earlier. D.C. is the perfect location for a historical based wax museum.
A close up of the two figures. Mark Twain is another very popular figure for wax museums. I suppose it's because of his unique look.
Another shot of Twain from the museum. It looks like a different figure altogether. This picture is from at least as early as 1959, and shows some distinct differences. He's wearing a black bow tie here, and his hair is different. Although he does look to be sitting in the same set (In a different chair).
(1755-1835)
A close up of the figure. Marshall's figure is incredibly lifelike. Many of the other figures at the museum did not have such detail.