The veritable apex or Parnassus of all goofy museums and depositories of nonsense science and pseudo-archaeology is located on Venice Boulevard in Los Angeles in an unobtrusive storefront that vaguely resembles an old fashioned 5-and-10-cent store.  Inside is a quiet, scholarly world of contemplation and scientific certainty—or is it?  It is chock-full of exhibits displaying marvels that may or may not be “real,” i.e., scientifically verifiable truths.  Or is it a sideshow of fakery and foolery on a grander scale even than the wonder rooms of P.T. Barnum?  David Wilson, the founder, owner and guide to the MJT, is a quiet, inscrutable accordion-player who answers all queries with wryly smiling obliquity.  His wife and co-founder of MJT, Diana Wilson, holds down the front desk and consoles those overcome with emotion in the MJT experience.

An hour among bizarre exhibits in the crepuscular gloom, and you begin to believe everything or nothing.  I go a long ways with the anthology of strange exhibits here, but I think I draw the line at the flying demon that passes through solid objects and was captured in a gigantic maze of solid lead walls.  Other folk may find their own sticking points, however.  Any time spent with MJT is time well spent, and the knowledge gained is unique and invaluable.  How many other museums can make that claim?  A brief DVD documentary called Inhaling the Spore is an excellent introduction to MJT, but Lawrence Weschler’s brilliant essay of the same name (available in a great collection called Mr. Wilson’s Cabinet of Wonders) is indispensable for understanding the deep mysteries of MJT.  However, only a firsthand visit will unfold all the miracles in this cabinet of wonders.  For visiting details see:  www.mjt.org

Artist’s conceptions of key MJT exhibits: