Unusual Atlantic City Museum to Close

A popular place of interest for tourists in the U.S. state of New Jersey will be changing soon.

The change involves the closing of the famous Ripley's Believe It Or Not! Museum in Atlantic City.

Museum officials said recently that it will close on December 31 after more than 26 years. The museum has unusual objects including shrunken heads, strange animals and representations of unbelievably tall or small humans.

Popular vacation place

Atlantic City is a popular place to visit on America‘s East Coast. The city, between New York and Philadelphia, has over 27 million visitors a year, the city's website says.

Atlantic City's Boardwalk is a walkway next to the sea. The museum, as well as hotels, stores, casinos, and other points of interest are on the Boardwalk.

The museum is designed with a giant globe that appears to have hit the front of the building.

Chris Connelly, the museum's manager, said in a statement, "We're grateful for the support of our fans and guests, whose curiosity, open-mindedness, and enthusiasm have contributed to our success for over 26 years."

He added, "We're thankful to have offered a" special "form of entertainment and education at the Jersey Shore, and we hope we have helped create wonderful memories for those who have come to visit."

Connelly said the museum is closing because of the end of a business agreement.

The future of the famous building is uncertain although it is possible some of the building's design elements may be used in the future, Connelly said.

The museum opened on the Boardwalk at New York Avenue on June 22, 1996 between two famous casinos.

It became popular with families looking for entertainment that did not involve gambling.

The museum has 14 galleries and over 400 exhibits. They include unusual objects such as a spider made from scissors and knives, a roulette table made of 14,000 jelly beans, and what the museum describes as the world's smallest production car.

The Atlantic City museum is one of more than 20 Ripley's museums in the U.S. and around the world.

I'm John Russell.

Wayne Parry reported on this story for the Associated Press. John Russell adapted it for VOA Learning English.

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tourist – n. a person who travels to a place for pleasure

museum – n. a building in which interesting and valuable things (such as paintings and sculptures or scientific or historical objects) are collected and shown to the public

casino – n. a building or room that has games (such as roulette or blackjack) for gambling

enthusiasm – n.: strong excitement about something : a strong feeling of active interest in something that you like or enjoy

entertainment –n. the pleasure of watching performances, games and similar pastimes

gambling – n. the practice or activity of betting money : the practice of risking money in a game or bet

gallery – n. a group or collection of people or things

exhibit – n. an object or a collection of objects that have been put out in a public space for people to look at : something shown in an exhibition