Towering before me stood Friday the 13th’s Jason Voorhees in his nearly seven-foot-tall glory, illuminated under dim red lights with his weapon of choice — a machete. Thankfully, a layer of glass separated Voorhees and I, and the slasher villain’s iconic hockey mask concealed the head of a mannequin instead of a decaying face.
Just like the tattered costume Derek Mears wore in “Friday the 13th” (2009), Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture, commonly referred to as MoPOP, is home to a vast collection of original film props, music memorabilia, and pop culture relics.
As someone whose mind is relentlessly consumed with thoughts of horror movies, rock n’ roll music, and pop culture of days past, visiting MoPOP has always been a treat to me. Thus, when my journalism adviser informed me that she would be taking a group of students on a field trip to MoPOP on Nov. 22, I immediately jumped at the opportunity.
Though this wasn’t my first (…or second) time at MoPOP, I still felt excited to explore the museum’s immersive exhibits with my fellow reporters. MoPOP cycles through what pieces are on display frequently enough to make repeated visits still feel unique, and the museum will periodically debut completely new exhibitions as well. Unfortunately, there weren’t any new exhibitions available to me at the time of my most recent visit, but I was still able to experience areas that I hadn’t had the time to get to in the past, such as the museum’s fantasy focused exhibition and hands-on Sound Lab.
Before we had even entered the museum, I found my classmates and I marveling at the building’s unconventional exterior, engulfed in a metal blanket composed of thousands of stainless steel panels and painted aluminum shingles. I’ve always been impressed by the thought that was given to making every part of the museum a celebration of creative expression, including the museum’s architecture.
As soon as we received the go-ahead to split into smaller groups and explore the museum, a few other horror-loving students and I beelined our way straight to MoPOP’s “Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film” exhibition. Immediately upon opening the exhibition’s doors, we were met with ominous moans and groans complemented by ambient blood-red lighting. Rows of display cases housed some of the most iconic horror costumes and props, such as the axe Jack Torrance wielded in “The Shining,” or the Xenomorph that terrorized the crew of astronauts in “Alien” while they were stranded in deep space.
If taking a picture next to the likes of Jason Voorhees or Michael Myers wasn’t enough, the exhibition also included a few spots perfect for photo taking. Once I was done posing amongst a miniature maze of body bags and living out my Dracula fantasies in an open coffin, I headed to the scream booth, where I was prompted to let out my best “angry” scream.
After I was finished in the horror exhibition, I made my way to the “Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction,” which was conveniently located next door. While I am much less familiar with science fiction media, I still had a good time browsing through the futuristic and otherworldly exhibits — my favorite of which being three hoverboards featured in “Back to the Future Part II.”
My third stop resided on the second floor of the museum, where I was greeted by a massive guitar sculpture that almost resembled a tornado, spiraling from the bottom of the floor all the way to the ceiling. Adjacent to this sculpture is MoPOP’s Guitar Gallery, consisting of a variety of guitars used by some of the most celebrated musicians throughout history. Of all the guitars showcased, I found Buddy Holly’s 1943/44 Gibson J-45 particularly memorable, as I discovered that the ornate leather case was handmade by no other than Holly himself.
A good portion of the exhibitions within MoPOP pay homage to some of Seattle’s most notable contributions to pop culture. There are currently two respective exhibitions dedicated to trailblazing musicians who originated from Seattle, including the legendary guitarist Jimi Hendrix and Nirvana lead singer and guitarist Kurt Cobain.
It’s hard to properly capture my feelings in words when I entered both exhibitions. To be inches from such prominent pieces of music history was beyond awe-inspiring. Music means everything to me. I spend hours upon hours listening to the music of my idols, glossing over their lyrics, and reading about their history and profound influence.
Sometimes, when these musicians have reached their peak in popularity or have passed before I was born, it can almost feel like they’re from another world. Being in the same room as the sheets of lyrics they touched, the clothing they wore, and the instruments they used in their rise to stardom is a surreal experience like no other.
Strangely, in that moment, I felt connected to them. Hendrix and Cobain were just as human as I. Decades ago, they may have even walked the same streets as I did that day. Now, years after their deaths, their legacies live on through the music that they shared with the world.
As I stared down at a doodle Cobain had drawn on a slip of paper, I wondered to myself if he knew that such a minuscule thing would be treasured in a museum in 2024. More than anything, I wonder if these musicians ever understood the gravity of their influence. It has been 57 years since Hendrix released his debut album “Are You Experienced,” and he released a total of three studio albums before his death four years later in 1970.
Still, today, hundreds gather to learn about his life and pay tribute to his accomplishments each day, just as they’ll continue to for innumerous years to come. Artists like Cobain and Hendrix have an impact that spans generations and unites people from all walks of life. I believe this line of thinking is exactly what MoPOP aims to leave with its visitors: pop culture is dynamic, constantly evolving, and therefore alive.
New art is being created every day. Our world is continually changing, and I feel inexpressibly grateful to be alive to bear witness to it. Creation is what makes us human — it is fundamental to our prosperity as individuals and as a collective — and I could only dream of leaving such a significant mark on the world that pieces of my life are immortalized in a museum. MoPOP, until next time. I can’t wait to return and see what you have to offer next.
