The Story of the Peculiarium
Famed and yet uknown Portland adventurer Conrad Talmadge Elwood had a dream, but forgot it when he woke up. Still he spent a life time traveling the globe in search of the inexplicable and the freaky. Established in 1967, The Freakybuttrue Peculiarium is a one-of-a-kind Art gallery begrudgingly devoted to Elwood's blurry vision.
Visitors can discover interactive art and installations for all six senses, including novelties, gags, books, original artwork, shirts, stickers, one-of-a-kind oddities, and more, complete with edible insects and the likes. In Conrad Elwood's words, the Peculiarium is an art gallery dedicated to learning and terror.
From Roadside America: "Unlike other urban odditoriums, the Peculiarium is not just a storefront with some weird junk in a display case. It's a true museum (or anti-museum, as Mike defines it) where everything is either made or modified by the warped brains of Lisa Freeman, Mike Wellins and Colin Batty and a supporting cast of like-minded artists -- all who share a perhaps-unhealthy passion for weird science, urban legends, and cryptozoology. "It's a chill place, not a scary place," said Mike. Signs caution visitors, "We promise nothing," and, "Unattended children will be fed to Krampus."
There are large photo-friendly exhibits, such as a "cliffhanger" skyscraper parapet, Bigfoot in the flesh and a tables-turned alien autopsy, are neatly tucked into the space. "We pack it in here," said Mike."
This is what our shop looked like, 2234 NW Thurman St, around 1966 or so.
