Cleveland, Ohio: Cleveland Police Museum

Features a grisly exhibit on the Torso Murders, one of the earliest recognized serial killings in the United States.

Cleveland Police Headquarters

Address:: 1300 Ontario St., Cleveland, OH
Directions:: On the first floor of Cleveland Police Headquarters. I-90 exit 174B onto westbound Hwy 2/Cleveland Shoreway. Drive west to the 9th St exit. Drive south one block, turn right onto Lakeside Ave., drive west four blocks, then turn left onto Ontario St. The museum is on the right, across from the parking garage.
Hours:: M-F 10-2 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:: 216-623-5055
RA Rates:: Worth a Detour

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Cleveland Police Museum

One of the most fascinating museums in town, dedicated to the history of crime, punishment, and the police in Cleveland. You can view extensive photographs, a bomb robot, jail cell, firearms display, CPD Harley Davidson Motorcycle, Eliot Ness display, Torso Murder death masks, and much more. Admission is free.

[Marge, 04/20/2013]

You had us at "Torso Murder death masks."

Cleveland Police Museum

Various fascinating and often grisly artifacts from Cleveland's crime history.

The star of the exhibits is the corner devoted to the infamous Torso Murders of the 1930s, generally thought to be the first recognized serial killings in the United States. Particularly scary-cool are the four painted and bewigged plaster casts of the faces of four unidentified Torso Murder Victims. These were shown in a little out-of-the-way booth at the 1937 Great Lakes Exposition in Cleveland, in the hopes that someone might recognize them. No one did. Now they're a little worse for the wear, but all the more creepy for it. Icky autopsy photos of Torso Murder victims -- or whatever parts they were able to recover.

Museum is free, with a conspicuous donation box beside the door.

[Mark Satola, 12/20/2000]

There were at least 12 victims of the Torso Murderer, who was never caught. Other highlights of the Museum include a you-can-sit-in-it jail cell from the Cleveland women's prison, and Eliot Ness's gun.