Medieval Torture Museum — the largest interactive torture museum in the USA, showcasing a unique private collection of devices for torture, executions, and restriction of freedom. The owner and organizer of the project is BenAur company, with branches located in St. Augustine, Chicago, and Los Angeles.
The idea to create the museum arose after visiting a torture museum in the Czech Republic. The founders were struck by the fact that old exhibits behind glass did not evoke the emotional impact necessary to help visitors better understand past tragedies. To recreate the dark atmosphere of medieval Europe, experts such as historians, blacksmiths, artists, costume designers, sculptors, and others were involved in the project. In 2017, the museum opened its doors on one of the oldest streets in America — St. George Street in St. Augustine, and in 2021, a second branch opened in Chicago, in the building of the Chicago Theatre.
The museum exhibits illustrate various stages of history, showing the most destructive manifestations of human ingenuity from dark times to the present. The main goal of the museum is to remind visitors of what can happen when power is in the hands of fanatics and tyrants. At the same time, each visitor has the opportunity to explore the dark aspects of their psyche, experiencing emotional shock firsthand.
The museum is a modern interactive space where visitors can not only look at exhibits but also interact with them. They can try on Spanish boots, sit in a spiked chair, pose in a "drunkard’s barrel," or attempt to recreate scenes of medieval tortures. Each exhibit is accompanied by the story of a victim or executioner, explaining their crimes or circumstances that led to the torture.
For a deeper immersion, the museum offers an audio guide with professionally voiced descriptions of the exhibits. There are also numerous engravings and informational stands that help visitors expand their historical knowledge.
In 2019, the museum ranked fourth in the "Best Museum" category according to FOLIO magazine in the "Best of Saint Augustine" ratings. It also received a TripAdvisor certificate for excellent visitor reviews, indicating its popularity and uniqueness.
Medieval Torture Museum — a unique opportunity to see the dark sides of history and reflect on the influence of power on human fate.
Current information:
Address: 177 N State St, Chicago, IL 60601, United States
Contacts: +1 (773)-241-7777
Working hours:
Mon-Thu 10:00-20:00 (10:00 AM - 08:00 PM)
Fri-Sun 10:00-21:00 (10:00 AM - 09:00 PM)
