Photo courtesy of Alcatraz East Crime Museum
Pop culture and true crime fans will soon have more to explore at the Alcatraz East Crime Museum. On March 1, 2024, the museum will unveil their newly revamped Crime in the Media & Pop Culture gallery, featuring a range of new exhibits and artifacts. The freshly redesigned space will leave crime junkies exploring their favorite crime podcasts, documentaries, reporters, movies and sports crimes. From Tiger King to Tiger Woods, the gallery Crime in the Media & Pop Culture expands with new additions to the museum’s vast original artifacts collection.
“We have a lot of repeat visitors, so I know they will be pleased to see all the new additions and changes to the museum in March,” says artifacts manager, Ally Pennington. “It’s always interesting to learn more details about famous cases in the news and the law enforcement that brings them to a halt.”
The permanent pop culture gallery will reopen on March 1, 2024, and is included in the regular admission fee. Some of the new items that will be on display include:
- A Lance Armstrong signed cycling jersey
- Derby costume from Charlie’s Angels Full Throttle
- Cowboy boots that belonged to John Walsh, from America’s Most Wanted
- The “Bad Vegan” Sarma Melngailis arrest collection
The new gallery focuses on the history and growth of crime in the media, crimes against celebrities, sports crimes, and highlights individuals that cover crime. The gallery will also review the psychology and fascination behind America’s favorite subject- true crime. A recent poll revealed that it’s a widely growing genre considering that over half of the adults in the country regularly listen to, read, or watch crime-related media regularly.
“The more we learn about crime, the more we can help prevent it,” added John Walsh, victims’ rights advocate, and host of America’s Most Wanted. “Understanding crime in the media and how everyone can help, whether reporting a tip or volunteering, we can all do our part to be the solution. I am honored to be included in such an important exhibit with this museum.”
The museum features over 100 exhibits and interactives and four temporary exhibit spaces, with many famous items on display, including Al Capone’s rosary, Ted Bundy’s dental molds, and Charles Manson’s acoustic guitar. They also hold various programs throughout the year, including an annual highlight of 9/11 and a biennial art contest that puts graffiti in the spotlight.This top museum is open at 10 a.m. daily. The last tickets are sold 60 minutes before closing. These interactive experiences are available for an additional fee for birthday parties, school groups, scouts, team building, or other special events. To get a discounted rate for groups of 15 or more, complete the online form and allow up to 72 hours for confirmation. For more information about tickets, discounts, temporary exhibits, and all the museum offers, visit the site: https://www.alcatrazeast.com.
Alcatraz East Crime Museum has updated its board of crime experts, which includes Derwin Bradley, a retired master police officer, James R. Knight, a crime writer, Robin Maynard, a certified crime scene investigator in Florida, Derek Newport, a law enforcement veteran who was with the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation for 20 years, and Judge Belvin Perry, Jr., who presided in the notorious case against Casey Anthony, among others.
Photo courtesy of Alcatraz East Crime Museum
