I know it's freaky, but true. When we asked our son where he wanted to go for a summer vacation trip, he showed us pictures of this Freakybuttrue Peculiarium and Museum. It was then we knew and decided that Oregon was where we were headed to explore. Parking for us was found about one block up and right off of NW Thurmont Street. We paid $2 to the City of Portland using their official mobile parking app, Parking Kitty. Pay to Park up to 4 hours is required in this area of the city 9AM-7PM Mon-Sat unless you have a Zone M permit. We didn't have a Zone M permit, nor do we know or care what that is.
Back in 2019, this same store and museum cost $5 for admission. Fast forward five years later to 2024 and it's $10 for a Gallery Admission One Ticket. Does that mean that in 2029, visitors can expect to pay $20? Woops, I shouldn't have divulged that information that I learned using my time machine since it may cause a paradox. So very sorry.
A poster on the front of the shop provides answers to "What the Heck is This Place? The Peculiarium is an ART GALLERY, featuring urban legends, pop culture, movies, sci-fi, and all things peculiar". We went in and saw what may have been a sculpture of a Deep Ones, a fish-like creature from the novel, The Shadow Over Innsmouth, written by H. P. Lovecraft. There was a framed photographed picture of Cassandra Peterson, who has played Elvira, Mistress of the Dark since 1981. Elvira herself visits Freakybuttrue every year on July 3rd. Don't miss the funny recounting of The Eruption of Mt. St. Helens told by a Peculiarium Intern. We also found a Wacked comic book on The Adventures of Tonya Harding and Her Pals. Who in the world is Tanya Harding? She's just some ice skater from Portland some may say. If you pay extra close attention, you may notice the singer Katy Perry may have also been interested in this particular display area. We also got to enjoy a haunted dollhouse, Vampire killing kit, alien autopsy, Bigfoot, Alfonse "Al" Capone memorabilia, and all things weird and peculiar.
Go with others. Have fun and take pictures at some of their exhibits like the cliffhanger skyscraper parapet and the alien autopsy table. Anything that you can look back at later to remember all the fun you had after deciding to stop by this little shop, that used to be a grocery store back in the 1960s, in northwest Portland is highly recommended.