Entry No. 55 — the Kansas City file — filed under: oddities

Leila’s Hair Museum

The world’s only museum devoted to hair art — more than 600 wreaths and 2,000 pieces of jewelry woven from human hair, a Victorian mourning custom, with strands attributed to Queen Victoria, Marilyn Monroe, and four U.S. presidents, collected by former cosmetology instructor Leila Cohoon.

The move: Take the docent-led walk-through that explains the mourning-hair tradition, then decide together whether the intricate woven wreaths are beautiful, macabre, or both — an unusually good conversation of a date.

📍 Before you go By appointment / limited hours — call ahead. In Independence, ~10 miles east of downtown KC.

• 📍 Independence
• 💸 $$
• ⚡ Up for anything
• 🌗 Indoors

Where: 1333 S Noland Rd, Independence, MO 64055

Hours: Added 2026-07-21 — confirm current hours before you go.

Plan a visit & invite your people →

Further reading: hairwork.com · Atlas Obscura

last checked: 2026-07-21