Activity: Leilia's Hair Museum

Location:  1333 S.Noland Road, Independence Mo

Hours:  Tuesday - Sat, 9am - 4 pm

Website:  http://leilashairmuseum.net/index.html

Cost:  $6.00 Adults, $3.00 for children.

Experience:
To answer your first question, because we know it's going to be asked, what the hell is a hair museum. 

Well, it's a museum dedicated to hair art.  Yup, it sounds a little creepy when said out loud. 

However, do not let that deter you, this place is worth it if only for the uniqueness of it.  Leila's Hair Museum is the only hair museum in the world.  From their site:  "boasting over 500 hair wreaths and over 2000 pieces of jewelry made of human hair. Boasting over 500 hair wreaths and over 2000 pieces of jewelry made of human hair.

Just for this reason, you should go see this.  What you will see are wreath's created from human hair.  These are quite intricate with a lot of detail work.  Apparently, according to Leilia, this art form came from an age when there were no photographs and this is how they shared family history's.  Many wreaths came from funerals.  Yup, good times.  

Beside the hair wreaths expect to see the pictures of baby's with real baby hair.  It's the uniqueness that you are see here, just keep that in mind.  She also has hair from some famous American figures, from Marylin Monroe to Elvis to George Washington.  

The jewelry is what we found the most fascinating because who would ever think that you could make a ring or a watch chain out of hair.  Well, apparently a lot of our ancestors did.  And now Leilia has them, just waiting for you to see them.  

Sure, the idea that all these people are dead or that the hair came from baby's long pest can get the creepy vibe going, but I ask you, doesn't history need to be a little creepy?

A note on age appropriate:  all manner of kids are welcome.  But those with small toddlers that are mobile will need to be on your toes.  The wreaths are framed all over the wall and many are low enough to the ground for sticky fingers to touch them.  Although you can't touch the actual hair, I can imagine you can pull the frames off really easily.  

Also, this museum shouldn't take you to long to get through, it's a 30 to 45 min trip so it's a good thing to do right before lunch, if you can maintain your appetite, you are good to go.