Legendary Fertility Statues Coming to Ripley's Believe It Or Not - Baltimore

Tuesday, June 16, 2015

DISCLOSURE:  This is a sponsored post in conjunction with USFamilyGuide.com I will receive free admission for a future visit in exchange for a review.  No further compensation was provided.   All opinions are my own.

This past Fall, my family and I had the chance to visit the Ripley's Believe It Or Not in Baltimore, MD. It was our first time visiting a Ripley's Museum and we all had a great time! (See my previous post about our last trip.) We've been wanting to go back, especially because my oldest daughter had missed it the first time. She had a field trip with her History Club at school and had to go to that instead.

Starting this Friday, June 19, a new display will be coming to the Ripley's Believe It Or Not. The Legendary Fertility Statues will be on display in the lobby. It is believed that if you touch the statues, you will be able to become pregnant!


The history of the statues
The statues were hand-carved by the Baule, who live in Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) in West Africa, and probably date back to the 1930s. Ripley's acquired them in 1993 and put them in the lobby of the company headquarters in Orlando. Within months, 13 women, including staffers and office visitors, were pregnant.
Following a December 1995 story in the Wall Street Journal chronicling the phenomenon, the demand to touch the statues became international news. In the ensuing years, the statues made three trips around the world. Women routinely made special visits just to touch them. Some who couldn't make it in person faxed copies of their handprints to employees, asking them to rub the handprints on the statues.
Hundreds of women reported that they became pregnant shortly after touching the wooden statues, even those who had been told by doctors they would never be able to conceive. Some are very serious about touching the statues, believing in their powers to help them conceive. Others want to avoid touching the statues - for the very same reason! 

While I don't need to get pregnant (four kids are enough for me!), it will be cool to actually see these Fertility Statues! Maybe I'll bring along my sister. My Mom has been begging her for a grandchild! Ha!

How to touch the statues in Baltimore

The statues will be on display in the lobby of Ripley's Believe It or Not! Baltimore Odditorium during regular business hours, Monday-Thursday from 10 am - 9 pm; Friday-Saturday from 10 am - 10 pm, and Sunday from 10 am - 8 pm. There is no charge to see the statues, but tickets will be required for visitors who wish to tour the Odditorium.

Special Offer!
Use this coupon and when you buy two attractions at Ripley's Believe It Or Not in Baltimore, you can get a third attraction free! Offer expires 12/31/2015.

Ripley's Believe It or Not!
301 Light Street
Light Street Pavilion
Baltimore, MD 21202

(443) 615-7878
http://www.ripleys.com/baltimore/

4 comments:

  1. I saw a show on Discovery or something like that with these on it. Crazy how they "work". I would be worried to walk by them! :)

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    Replies
    1. I know, right?! I don't need to have more kids!

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  2. That would be cool if it was that simple to get pregnant. These would be fun to see.

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