For Friday the 13th: A Trip to the Lizzie Borden Museum & Bed and Breakfast

I love Friday the 13th. I was born on a Friday the 13th and 13 has always been my favorite number. Although we didn’t take this trip on a Friday the 13th, I thought this article would be fun to share today.

Yes, there actually is a Lizzie Borden Museum and Bed and Breakfast. It’s located in Fall River, MA and my cousin took me and my aunt there a few weeks ago. It is indeed the house that the Bordens lived in, where the father and step mother were murdered – allegedly by Lizzie – and where Lizzie went back to live with her older sister after her acquittal in the murder  trial. You can stay there in any of the bedrooms that the Bordens lived in, or in one of the few bedrooms created for the B & B after the current owner bought the property. Creepy.

I am fascinated by the strange, weird and macabre (which is why I went in the first place), and was really psyched for this. Unfortunately, it wasn’t to my taste. The whole museum and tour was too glib – almost cartoonish. There was no respect for the family or the murder, which was showcased in surprising detail. The actual murder weapon was housed there:

Along with the crime scene photos:

I’m going to say that again, since it’s a first for me: I viewed the crime scene photos from the alleged Lizzie Borden murders. If you look closely at the photo on the left – don’t if your squeamish – you can see Mr. Borden on the couch. This crime scene was the first to be photographed in the United States, and only the second in the world. The first was a victim of Jack the Ripper in London. Did you notice the magnifying glass? That was a little disturbing.

There was other paraphernalia around the house from the Bordens – books owned by Lizzie, paperwork of the stepmother’s, family photos and more. But as I said, it really didn’t feel respectful. The magnifying glass above is a good example. The crime scene photo was getting close to the line of glorification, but the magnifying glass just pushed it way over from my perspective. Another example? They decorated the place for Halloween – fake skulls, tombstones, etc. If you look closely at the photos of Lizzie below, you’ll see a small decoration between the first and second photos:

I wonder if they decorate the house for Christmas or any other holiday.

I don’t mean to say it’s not worth going to, if you’re so inclined. I thought it was worth the trip, if only as a curiosity. Would you visit the Lizzie Borden museum? Better yet, would you stay overnight? The house is reputed to be quite haunted, if you’re into that sort of thing. I think I’ll take a pass; the idea of sleeping in one of those beds gives me the horrors.