In the year 2000 Madame Tussauds New York opened at 234 West 42nd Street at Times Square in Manhattan. But the legacy of the Madame Tussauds' wax museums began in the late 18th century, more than two centuries ago in Paris, where the young Madame Tussauds herself first learned the craft of molding wax images.
It was years later, in the early 19th Century, that Madame Tussauds took her craft to England with a traveling exhibition that eventually settled on Baker Street, establishing the first of her wax museums in 1835.
Today Madame Tussauds in New York and elsewhere belong to The Merlin Entertainments Group which is one of the top visitor attraction entertainment companies on the planet, with 58 attractions in all spread across 12 different countries
The New York site maintains the tradition that Madame Tussauds began, translating the news of the day and top political and entertainment figures into waxen replicas on display for the public. The days of separating visitors from the exhibits with ropes are a thing of the past. Now visitors are allowed to mingle directly with the lifelike makeovers of current and past world leaders and notorious villains.
Bill and Hillary Clinton, Colin Powell, Ronald Reagan and Barack Obama are among the political giants of modern U.S. politics that can be seen at Madame Tussauds New York.
Gandhi and Nelson Mandela can also be seen among world leaders that have shaped the world to later be shaped into waxen images for visitors to study at the museum.
Children under 3 years of age are allowed free admission to the museum. Admission can be purchased in advance on line or at the admissions desk upon arrival at the location. Gift cards and group rates are also available from the museum.
Madame Tussauds New York extends its hours during summer and holidays while its normal hours are from 10 AM to 10 PM on Friday and Saturday and from 10 AM to 8 PM Sunday through Thursday. The closing hours mentioned are last ticket sales times. Nevertheless, special events alter museum hours and it is advisable to check on museum hours on specific dates by phone or through the museum's web page prior to planning a visit in order to avoid inconveniences.
The museum periodically will hold special events such as for the unveiling of new wax figures that join the regular roster or for certain periods of time such as a February Black History Month exhibit.
More than 200 figures can be seen at Madame Tussauds New York on 365 days a year.
Several companies have partnered with the NY Museum and individual sponsorship is also actively sought by the museum. The museum also allows for private events such as parties among its gallery of life-like models.
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