Millions and millions of people have flocked through the doors of Madame Tussauds since they first opened over 200 years ago and it remains just as popular as it ever was. There are many reasons for this enduring success, but at the heart of it all is good, old-fashioned curiosity.
The making of a Star
1761
Madame Tussaud is born Marie Grosholtz in Strasbourg.
1777
Marie models the famous author and philosopher, Francois Voltaire.
1780
Marie becomes art tutor to King Louis XVI’s sister and goes to live at the Royal Court in Versailles.
1789
On the eve of The French Revolution, Marie returns to Paris.
1793
Marie is imprisoned with her mother in the notorious Laforce Prison,Paris. On her release she is forced to prove her allegiance to the Revolution by making death masks of executed nobles and her former employers, the King and Queen.
1794
The French Revolution ends and Marie inherits Dr Philippe Curtius’ wax exhibition.
1795
Marie marries François Tussaud.
Bringing history to Britain
1802
Madame Tussaud takes her exhibition on tour to the British Isles, leaving behind her husband.
1835
With her sons, Madame Tussaud establishes a base in London at ‘The Baker Street Bazaar.’
1846
Punch Magazine coins the name Chamber Of Horrors for Madame Tussaud’s ‘Separate Room’, where gruesome relics of the French Revolution are displayed.
1850
Madame Tussaud dies.
A historic attraction is born
1884
Marie’s grandsons move the attraction to its current site on Marylebone Road
1925
The attraction is devastated by fire.
1928
Restoration is completed with the addition of a cinema and restaurant.
1940
Madame Tussauds is struck by a German World War II bomb destroying 352 head moulds, and the cinema.
Attractions around the world
1972
The second European Madame Tussauds attraction opens in Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
1999
The first American Madame Tussauds opens in Las Vegas.
2000
The second American Madame Tussauds attraction opens in New York, and the same year Madame Tussauds opens in Hong Kong.
2006
Madame Tussauds opens in Shanghai.
2007
The third American attraction opens in Washington DC.
2008
The third European site becomes Berlin, where the attraction opens in ‘Unter den Linden’.
2009
The fourth American site opens in Hollywood.
2010
Madame Tussauds Bangkok opens in December - the third attraction in Asia.
2011
Vienna (Austria) and Blackpool (UK) both open in April 2011 - the global count is now up to 12 attractions.
2011
Celebrating 250 Years!
The next 250 years
2012
G'day! Madame Tussauds arrives Down Under in Sydney.
2013
Madame Tussauds attractions open in Tokyo and Wuhan.
2014
The fifth US attraction opens in San Francisco, California, and China’s third attraction opens in Beijing. And Madame Tussauds Singapore opened this year.
