Can I send you a haunted artifact?
Absolutely.
We’re always interested in acquiring artifacts for study, preservation, and safe-keeping. If you have an item that you believe is haunted and you’d like to donate it to the collection, please refer to our “contributions” guide for instructions.
If you’re having issues attributed to a potentially haunted object and you’d like our assistance with the matter, don’t hesitate to reach out. In many cases, we’re able to perform an investigation and pick the artifact up personally.
How do I book the museum for my event?
Booking the museum is a piece of cake. Just email our agent at [email protected] and she’ll get the ball rolling.
How can I get the museum exhibition to an event near me?
If there’s an event in your area that where like to see the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal & Occult’s exhibition, the best thing you can do is contact the organizers and let them know. We’ve displayed the museum at paranormal events, horror conventions, pop culture conferences, and private events all around the country, so chances are there’s a perfect opportunity for an exhibition in your neck of the woods.
Not sure where to start? Check out our handy guide to the biggest events near you!
Do you have a television show?
Nope!
We don’t currently have a television series of our own, but we’re often called in to help our friends and colleagues with cases presented on their programs, which is probably what you’re thinking of. Finding Bigfoot, Kindred Spirits, Mysteries at the Museum, and Paranormal Lockdown are just a few of the series we’ve appeared on. You never know where we’ll pop up next.
If you’re Canadian, you might recognize Dana as the star of 2004’s The Girly Ghosthunters on Space.
Can I visit your physical location?
Sorry, but we’re strictly a traveling museum at the moment. Stay tuned.
What is the Museum Membership Program?
The Museum Membership Program is a way to support our work studying, preserving, and protecting artifacts of supernatural significance while getting cool stuff in return.
Membership in the museum grants perks like access to our files, exclusive members-only events with celebrity guests in some of the world’s most haunted places, live-streamed investigations, Dana’s Magic of the Month Club, and even the ability to join our Advisory Board. Plus, all members get an awesome membership kit with stickers, buttons, and an official membership card.
You can learn more about the Museum Membership Program here.
Do you “cleanse” objects before they enter the collection?
We typically approach the idea of a “cleansing” on a case-by-case basis as not to affect any potential anomalous activity before we’ve had a chance to study it for ourselves. No sense in offending someone – or something – you’ve just met.
How do items become haunted?
While there’s no definitive answer to this question, our past experiences have led us to believe that there are three main ways items become haunted:
Residual psychic impressions left by traumatic events, intelligent entities manipulating an object (usually as an act of communication), and an “intentional” haunting brought about by intense ritual activities or obsessive emotional fixation on an item.
Are all of the artifacts in the Newkirk collection haunted?
Not at all.
Haunted artifacts are just a small part of our collection, but for obvious reasons, tend to get the most attention. We also maintain a large collection of items relating to the history of parapsychology, spiritualism, witchcraft, ufology, cryptozoology, and pop-culture depictions of the paranormal.
Where do you obtain your artifacts?
All the haunted artifacts in the collection were either donated by their owners or paranormal researches, if not collected by the Newkirks themselves during the course of an investigation. Historical artifacts in the collection came from private collectors, generous donors, and lots of detective work.
Does the museum contain “oddities” or “gaffes”?
No.
Every item in the Newkirk collection has been specially-curated to denote serious effort to preserve and protect the history, folklore, and anomalous activity associated with the paranormal.
Do you purchase haunted artifacts?
No.
Aside from the moral and ethical complications involved in the selling of items alleged to have intelligent attachments, purchasing an item distinctly labeled as “haunted” is a slippery slope.
In our experience, individuals in possession of an artifact exhibiting genuinely anomalous activity will do one of two things: get rid of the object at all costs or never, ever part with it. Money rarely factors into the equation.
Items listed for sale as haunted are, nearly always, fake. To purchase these objects is to be a bad investigator, poor researcher, and lousy human.
Shouldn’t I be afraid of haunted objects?
While we always advocate caution when dealing with the paranormal, it’s our opinion that the dangers posed by haunted objects – and hauntings in general – have been greatly exaggerated by individuals who’ve never taken the time to actually understand the phenomena. In fact, most opinions on ghosts, hauntings, and the supernatural are informed by deeply-ingrained religious dogma, well-crafted entertainment, and those who would use your fear as a control mechanism.
Most hauntings aren’t evil entities attempting to devour our mortal souls, but rather the result of an intelligence attempting to draw our attention to a message that needs hearing or a problem that needs fixing. Most of us – flesh or otherwise – have a tendency to raise our voices when we aren’t being listened to.
While dangers do exist, fear is the greatest obstacle we have when it comes to understanding the supernormal and the unexplained. Be cautious, be smart, but always choose curiosity over fear.
Should I buy this haunted doll from ebay?
Only if you’re a sucker who hates money.
What’s that thing you guys do with the headphones and eye mask?
You’re probably talking about the Estes Method, sometimes referred to as the “Spirit Box Experiment”. The Estes Method was developed by our good friends Karl Pfeiffer and Conner Randall during their time as resident paranormal investigators of Colorado’s infamous Stanley Hotel.
The Estes Method makes use of sensory deprivation techniques in order to enhance latent psychic abilities. In short, it’s a form of technologically-assisted mediumship. When performed correctly and with an appropriate operator, the results are nothing short of mind-blowing, which is why you’ve seen it pop up on hit television series like Kindred Spirits.
Are there items you don’t display in the museum?
Plenty.
Many of our artifacts are too fragile, large, or valuable to take on the road, while others are too volatile or uncomfortable to publicly display. Examples include blood-stained books believed to have caused miscarriages, forensic dolls used in court cases relating to child abuse, and items like The Catskills Crone, which has recently been retired from touring.. with very good reason.
We do occasionally present a rare “Volatile Artifacts” exhibit with some of the collection’s more difficult pieces displayed with extra precautions.
Can items in the collection affect me if I visit an exhibition?
While we take every precaution to provide a safe, comfortable environment during museum exhibitions, there’s always a chance than a piece may affect you emotionally, physically, or mentally in ways both sudden and strange.
Some visitors report being hit by a thick wall of “electric spiderwebs” when approaching the tent and are physically unable to enter. Others find themselves becoming nauseous near certain artifacts, while a good number of guests become emotionally overwhelmed. Fortunately, Greg and Dana Newkirk are always on hand to help explain the feelings and ease any discomfort.
Do you have any items from famous paranormal cases?
Many of the artifacts in the Newkirk collection come from some of the most famous – and infamous – paranormal cases in history. We have numerous items relating to the work of The Conjuring‘s Ed and Lorraine Warren, pieces from the case that inspired The Amityville Horror, and even artifacts relating to the factual basis of The Exorcist, to name a few.
Which artifact in the collection is the most active?
Without question, that distinction belongs to The Idol of Nightmares, lovingly known as Billy. Between the strange dreams, technological malfunctions, incredible EVPs, and high level of interaction exhibited by the intelligence associated with the piece, Billy has become the defacto mascot for the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal & Occult.
What artifact makes you feel the worst?
We’re never quick to make sweeping judgements about the artifacts we study, but there are a few pieces that we’ve found are best left alone. The Catskills Crone is probably the most well-known example, but there is another – a piece named “Hatred” – which might just be the worst item we’ve come across yet.
Aren’t you scared of these artifacts?
No.
We’re cautious, but curious. Fear doesn’t accomplish anything.
But so-and-so said haunted items are dangerous / full of demons..
The idea that haunted artifacts are something to be feared is an old and outdated one perpetuated only by dogma, pop-culture, and the misinformed. It’s our view that hauntings are messages – either intelligent or residual – that few people have the patience, tools, or skill to decipher.
Much like hating someone simply because you can’t understand their language, deeming a misunderstood haunting as “demonic” is reckless, mean-spirited, and willfully ignorant.
Why don’t you destroy the dangerous items?
Traditional thought regarding supernaturally-influenced items is that their destruction “releases” whatever energy may be bound to the object, but our decision to preserve these items comes down to this: you can’t study what you destroy.
Why do you collect haunted & historically significant artifacts?
Our deep appreciation for the preservation of folklore, our respect for the unsung accomplishments of parapsychology, and our desire to discover, collect, and share the mysteries of the paranormal coalesced into the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal & Occult. We’ve spent our lives chasing down the unexplained, so in many ways, the founding of the museum was inevitable.
As two of the world’s very few full-time paranormal investigators, we’re in the unique position to dedicate ourselves to the preservation and study of these pieces in ways that hobbyists simply can’t. Our child-free, low-impact lifestyle is conducive to the highly irregular and unpredictable nature of anomalous research, meaning we can safely store and maintain these pieces without fear of affecting our lives or anyone else’s. It also means we’re free to hop in a car and assist on a case, pick up an artifact, or research a location at the drop of a hat.
But truth be told, curating the collection often feels more like a calling than a choice.
Will you investigate my house / business / property?
If you believe that you’re dealing with a haunting, we may be able to assist you with an investigation. In the event that we’re not available due to prior obligations, travel restrictions, or other issues, we may be able to refer your case to a trusted investigator in your area.
Please don’t hesitate to contact us if you need help.
Will you investigate my haunted object?
That depends.
Due to the sensitive, time-intensive, and highly exploitable nature of our work, we’re only able to investigate artifacts that are permanently donated to the museum. Except for extremely special circumstances, we cannot accept loans, leases, or otherwise-temporary arrangements with potentially-haunted items.
If you have an object that you believe is haunted and you’d like it removed or studied, you may donate it to the museum and we’ll be more than happy to share our findings with you, provide you with a stamped and signed certificate of donation, and list your name as a donor.
For more information, please refer to our contributions guidelines.
Do you work with psychics?
Yes and no.
We have a group of trusted psychics, mediums, and psychometrists that we often call upon for input on cases. Their interpretations of the information provided to them through extrasensory means provide valuable metaphysical lenses through which to view our work, but are used mainly as clues that point to a larger picture in a case, and rarely relied on as definitive evidence.
Are you really full-time paranormal investigators?
Yes!
No moonlighting, here. Dana and Greg Newkirk are full-time paranormal investigators, with over two decades of active, boots-on-the-ground research under their belts. For more about them and their history, check out this page.
Do you investigate anything other than hauntings?
Yes!
We’ve spent the last two decades investigating everything from Bigfoot reports, to alien abductions, psychic phenomena, witchcraft, time-slips, historical legends, and everything in-between. You name it, we’ve probably chased it down.
The eclectic nature of the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal & Occult, which contains artifacts relating to all of the previously-mentioned investigations, is a reflection of our work: to understand one facet of the anomalous, you need to research them all.
Dana’s accent sounds vaguely familiar..
Dana Newkirk is a proud Canadian, and her vowels reflect that fact. She even had her own television series, The Girly Ghosthunters, on Canada’s Space network back in 2004.
What is THE INITIATIVE?
The culmination of half a decade of work drawing on some of the biggest breakthroughs in parapsychology, THE INITIATIVE is a groundbreaking paranormal research project that is poised to change the way we investigate the unexplained. To say any more would be premature, but early tests are game-changing, to say the very least.
THE INITIATIVE is directly funded by the Museum Membership project.
The public debut of THE INITIATIVE is coming soon.
Are you related to Ed and Lorraine Warren?
We get that a lot, but no, we’re not related to Ed & Lorraine Warren.
Other than a few surface-level coincidences, we have very little in common with the duo.
What do you think about Ouija boards?
Ouija boards are a wonderful tool for communication, though we’re of two minds about who might be at the other end of the line. Whether you’re speaking to non-local intelligences or your own subconscious – both of which can be unsettling to the uninitiated – they’re just tools, and you dictate how to use them.
Consider this: if you picked up a phone and started dialing random numbers in the middle of the night, whoever picked up on the other end is probably not going to be happy with the crank call. The same goes for spirit boards.
If you could obtain any artifact, what would it be?
Greg: wreckage from the 1947 Roswell UFO crash or a plaster cast of the Kentucky Goblin prints.
Dana: One of Aleister Crowley’s wands, hand’s down.
Will you be on my podcast / web series / tv show?
We’d love to!
Drop us a line with the details, and we’ll do our best to make it work.
Email: [email protected]
What if I have a question that your FAQ doesn’t answer?
If you didn’t find the answer you were looking for in this FAQ, don’t hesitate to reach out. We receive a high volume of correspondence, so don’t be upset if we can’t return your email right away – we do our best to answer all messages.