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San Francisco Ripley's Museum to Sell Joe DiMaggio's Crutches
3 Oct
Summary
- San Francisco's Ripley's Museum will close permanently by the end of 2026.
- Artifacts with San Francisco ties, including DiMaggio's crutches, will be sold.
- The museum first opened its doors to the public on February 2, 1967.
The Ripley's Believe It or Not! museum, a well-known fixture in San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, will permanently cease operations by the end of 2026. This marks the end of the attraction's nearly 60-year presence in the city.
A spokesperson for the national chain stated that the decision was not due to a single factor but a comprehensive review of the attraction's place within the evolving landscape of Fisherman's Wharf.
Opened on February 2, 1967, the museum has showcased hundreds of rare and unusual artifacts. The company's roots in San Francisco run deeper, with founder Robert Ripley starting his career there in 1909.
As operations conclude, a curated selection of exhibits strongly connected to San Francisco will be made available for purchase. These special items will offer fans a unique opportunity to acquire a piece of Ripley's history and the city's legacy.
Potential offerings include Joe DiMaggio's crutches, artistic models of the Golden Gate Bridge, and a chicken-wire portrait of Janis Joplin, among other distinct curiosities.
The company continues to operate 26 other museums globally, with recent closures including locations in Scottsdale, Arizona, and Atlantic City, New Jersey.
