The Newkirks’ Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult is a unique mobile collection featuring hundreds of haunted and historically significant artifacts tied to supernatural folklore and true-life accounts. Founded by Dana and Greg Newkirk, this museum brings mysterious objects and spooky tales to audiences across the country, making the world of the unexplained accessible to curious visitors everywhere.

Through live events and interactive experiences, the Newkirks invite the public to explore the stories behind these unusual items, offering insights drawn from their years of investigation in the paranormal field. Fans of the supernatural can engage with the museum both in person and online, including monthly live investigations and classes that explore magick and occult history.

This traveling museum stands out by merging historical context, eyewitness accounts, and hands-on exploration of eerie artifacts, providing a fresh look at the paranormal that appeals to skeptics and believers alike.

The Newkirks: Founders of the Traveling Museum

Greg Newkirk and Dana Newkirk have gained recognition as leading paranormal investigators and museum curators. Their shared passion for the unexplained has led them to collect and research hundreds of unusual objects tied to supernatural folklore, history, and personal experiences.

About Greg Newkirk

Greg Newkirk is a seasoned paranormal investigator with decades of experience researching unexplained phenomena. He began investigating haunted locations and mysterious reports as a teenager. Over time, he developed a reputation for his careful documentation and analytical approach to the paranormal.

In addition to his investigative work, Greg is a producer and writer specializing in paranormal media projects. He is known for his work on documentaries, podcasts, and live events related to unexplained encounters. Greg often conducts in-depth interviews and research, helping to bring obscure stories and haunted objects into the public eye.

His role in the museum includes curating artifacts, verifying their origins, and presenting their histories to the public. Greg’s dedication to authenticity and transparency is a key factor in the museum’s credibility among enthusiasts.

About Dana Newkirk

Dana Newkirk is a paranormal investigator, researcher, and co-founder of the museum. She has years of experience working with haunted objects and is regarded for her intuitive methods and deep understanding of folklore’s role in supernatural phenomena.

She has contributed extensively to the study of ritualistic and occult artifacts, often focusing on the personal stories connected to each object. Dana’s skills include conducting interactive presentations and leading hands-on experiments, which engage audiences and encourage participation.

Dana is also involved in producing museum events, developing educational materials, and co-hosting paranormal podcasts. Her expertise helps bridge the gap between research and accessible public education, making complex topics more approachable.

Mission and Vision

The museum was established to provide a platform for the responsible exploration and preservation of haunted and occult objects. Its mission centers on offering public access to the history, science, and folklore behind these artifacts through live events, exhibits, and digital media.

The Newkirks prioritize promoting open-minded skepticism, aiming to separate fact from fiction with evidence-based research. Their vision includes fostering a community of curious individuals united by a shared interest in unexplained phenomena.

Key objectives include hosting educational programs, collaborating with experts, and preserving rare items for future study. The museum’s activities extend to podcasts, mailbag sessions, and membership offerings that allow for greater public involvement.

History and Evolution of the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult

Founded in the early 2010s, the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult has grown from a small selection of artifacts into one of the most recognized mobile museums dedicated to supernatural history and haunted objects. The project was led by Greg and Dana Newkirk, who aimed to educate and intrigue audiences across the United States.

Origins and Early Years

Greg and Dana Newkirk established the Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult in 2013. Their initial concept centered around making a diverse collection of haunted and occult artifacts publicly accessible.

The museum originated in Cincinnati, Ohio, where the Newkirks were based. They started by presenting at conventions, private events, and small gatherings. Early displays often featured items from their personal investigations and private acquisitions.

From the beginning, the Newkirks emphasized research and education, offering insights into the historical and folkloric context behind each object. Short guided talks and interactive experiences encouraged visitors to participate and ask questions.

Milestones and Expansion

As interest increased, the museum expanded both its collection and its reach. The Newkirks introduced new artifacts linked to legends, documented hauntings, and notable paranormal cases. The museum’s presence grew at national conventions and major events.

A significant milestone was the transition from local exhibits in Cincinnati to a broad touring schedule, including stops in regions like the Tampa Bay Area. They began collaborating with other researchers and integrating multimedia presentations into their displays.

Notable achievements include:

Touring hundreds of events nationwide
Hosting live educational shows about haunted objects
Building a reputation as the world’s only mobile paranormal museum

Through these developments, the Newkirks established a dynamic approach to sharing paranormal history with the public.

Exhibits and Eerie Artifacts

The Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult brings together an array of haunted objects and sinister artifacts. Visitors encounter notorious items, each with its own history and reported supernatural phenomena.

Haunted Objects and Cursed Relics

Many items in the Newkirks' collection are believed by owners and witnesses to be haunted or cursed. Objects may range from everyday items—like jewelry or photographs—to rare ritual pieces, each gathered through careful documentation and research.

Reported effects include cold spots, unexplained movements, or chills when certain relics are handled. Some of the most infamous relics have appeared on television and in podcasts, sparking debates about their authenticity.

Key artifacts are often displayed with background information explaining their source, reported phenomena, and steps taken to investigate their stories. The museum's approach aims to provide visitors with both a sense of history and a context for reported supernatural activity.

Common haunted artifacts:

Type Notable Example Reason for Notoriety Jewelry "The Demon Ring" Owner reported bad luck, nightmares Ritual Item "The Black Mirror" Scrying, unexplained visions Photograph "Spirit Photo Collection" Apparitions in photos

The Crone and Catskills Crone

The Crone, also called the Catskills Crone, is one of the best-known items in the museum’s possession. Discovered in a cave in the Catskill Mountains, the Crone is a wooden effigy bound with rope and nails.

According to those who recovered it, the object seemed to bring about an immediate series of unsettling events. People close to the Crone have reported shadowy apparitions, unexplained water leaks, and a persistent sense of dread.

The Newkirks conducted multiple tests and brought in guest experts to observe the Crone. Still, the object continues to puzzle investigators. Its story is a frequent topic at museum events and podcasts due to the consistency and detail of the reports.

Reported phenomena:

Disembodied voices
Physical sensations (nausea, headaches)
Water leaking near the Crone without apparent cause

Dolls and Porcelain Clowns

Dolls, especially porcelain clowns, have long been linked with unsettling experiences and paranormal accounts. The museum features a number of these artifacts, each with detailed histories.

Some dolls were donated after repeated reports of them changing position or causing nightmares. Certain porcelain clowns, associated with cold drafts and the feeling of being watched, draw particular attention from museum visitors.

Items in this subsection frequently undergo observation periods, during which visitors and staff log any unusual occurrences. Each doll or clown is labeled with its origin, reported phenomena, and any responses documented by the museum team.

Notable haunted dolls and clowns:

"Isabelle," a porcelain clown reported to move on its own
"Margaret," a doll linked to recurring poltergeist activity
"The Watcher," a figure named for visitors' persistent feeling of being observed

Special Collections and Supernatural Phenomena

The Newkirks’ Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult houses artifacts that are linked to reports of hauntings, legendary creatures, and other anomalous events. Visitors encounter items tied to documented supernatural phenomena, often accompanied by detailed histories and witness accounts.

Footsteps and Strange Phenomena

A number of objects in the museum are associated with unexplained sounds and sensory events. Attendees have reported hearing disembodied footsteps, whispering, and knocks near certain displays. These phenomena are often documented in guest logs and digital recordings.

Motion sensors and EMF meters are frequently placed near suspected haunted artifacts. Readings sometimes spike unexpectedly in the presence of items with notorious reputations. The Newkirks take a methodical approach, recording environmental data during presentations to assess the frequency and randomness of these events.

Witness reports are collected and compared with historical claims tied to specific objects. This process helps distinguish recurring patterns from isolated incidents.

Bigfoot Casts and High Strangeness

The museum features an assortment of Bigfoot footprint casts collected from alleged sighting locations across North America. Each cast is labeled with its origin, date, and the names of the people who discovered it.

Alongside these casts, informational panels provide context about reported high strangeness at Bigfoot encounter sites. These reports range from UFO sightings to odd lights and unexplained animal behavior. The Newkirks emphasize the overlap between cryptid encounters and other types of strange phenomena.

Table: Bigfoot Cast Samples

Location Year Notable Features Bluff Creek 1967 Dermal ridges, pronounced toes Salt Fork 2002 Wide gait impression Whitehall 1976 Deep heel, unusual stride

Ghost Stories and Myths

The museum's displays include objects believed to be haunted, such as dolls, mirrors, and ritual relics. Each item is accompanied by a case file outlining its ghost stories and the myths that grew around it.

Visitors can read firsthand witness testimonies about apparitions, cold spots, and other classic haunting phenomena. Some artifacts have been featured on paranormal investigation TV shows, adding to their lore and intrigue.

Key Myth Themes in the Collection:

Spirits attached to personal belongings
Folklore regarding cursed objects
Regional legends of haunted locations

The Newkirks maintain a database of reported paranormal phenomena linked to specific items, offering transparency and context for skeptical visitors.

Interactive Experiences and Events

The Newkirks design hands-on programs that let participants directly explore the world of haunted artifacts and paranormal research. These experiences give attendees practical tools and firsthand exposure to investigative techniques and phenomena.

Haunted Objects Live

Haunted Objects Live is an interactive stage presentation hosted by Dana and Greg Newkirk. Audience members learn about unusual and haunted objects from the museum's collection, many of which have documented histories or mysterious activity attached.

This event often includes live storytelling, high-resolution displays of artifacts, and demonstrations that invite limited audience participation. Dana and Greg share factual background about each object, covering its origins, reported effects, and how it ended up in the collection.

Participants sometimes witness live experiments or see objects up close, allowing for a safe encounter with haunted artifacts. The event emphasizes education and transparency, giving an inside look at how the museum researches claims of paranormal activity.

Key Features:

Direct exposure to haunted objects and their stories
Audience interaction during live demonstrations
Explanations of investigative processes used by the museum

Paranormal Investigator Workshops

Paranormal Investigator Workshops focus on teaching foundational skills in ghost hunting and anomaly research. Led by the Newkirks, these sessions cover best practices for investigating haunted locations and objects.

Attendees gain experience with equipment such as EMF meters and digital recorders. The workshops stress skepticism and documentation, explaining protocols for analyzing evidence and ruling out mundane causes. Dana and Greg address both the technical and ethical sides of investigation, drawing on years of fieldwork and research.

Hands-On Activities:

Training in equipment use
Discussing how to log and interpret data
Reviewing actual case files from the museum's past investigations

Workshops are designed to be accessible for newcomers while still offering advanced insights for practiced investigators.

The Estes Method Demonstrations

The Estes Method Demonstrations showcase a real-time spirit communication technique developed by paranormal investigators, including Greg and Dana Newkirk. The method involves sensory deprivation: one participant listens to a live spirit box audio feed through noise-cancelling headphones and a blindfold while others ask questions.

Because the listener cannot hear the questions, any relevant responses are notable. The Newkirks present the Estes Method with clear explanations of the procedure, its objectives, and precautions that ensure participant safety.

Demonstrations often allow small groups from the audience to try the method. The Newkirks discuss the method’s limitations and how data from these sessions is analyzed and logged, giving a transparent view into this unique form of investigation.

Media, Documentaries, and Cultural Impact

Greg and Dana Newkirk’s work has led to significant media coverage, documentary features, and active public engagement. Their museum, investigations, and unique approach have influenced the modern perception of haunted artifacts, supernatural folklore, and occult research.

Hellier and The Unbinding

Greg and Dana Newkirk rose to prominence in paranormal media through their involvement in the documentary series Hellier. Created together with investigator Karl Pfeiffer, Hellier follows a team as they investigate mysterious events, odd artifacts, and Appalachian folklore. The series is noted for its methodical documentation and attention to the psychological aspects of paranormal investigation.

Hellier brought increased visibility to their Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult. The documentary explores topics like synchronicity, the occult, and high strangeness, offering a multidisciplinary look at supernatural events. The Newkirks' contributions emphasized their commitment to research as well as their willingness to openly discuss ambiguous and unexplained phenomena.

In addition to Hellier, the Newkirks featured in The Unbinding, a documentary examining the story of a haunted fetish object and its broader implications. The film investigates the cultural, psychological, and historical significance of cursed artifacts, underlining the Newkirks' expertise in dealing with unusual items. These documentaries reinforced their status as leading figures in paranormal investigation.

Podcast and Public Outreach

Greg and Dana Newkirk have used podcasts and live events to expand their outreach. They have appeared on numerous paranormal and occult podcasts to discuss their experiences, methodologies, and the stories behind specific objects in their collection. This frequent engagement with podcast audiences has helped make research on haunted artifacts more accessible.

Their live show, "Haunted Objects Live," introduces audiences to both well-known and obscure haunted objects from their museum. The Newkirks’ touring events feature real-time discussion, audience participation, and educational insights into paranormal history. The format encourages public dialogue, fueling interest in the study of paranormal artifacts and broadening the appeal of supernatural investigation.

Outside of their own work, they contribute to broader paranormal conferences and online events like Phenomenacon, fostering a network of researchers and enthusiasts. These efforts demonstrate a commitment to transparency, critical inquiry, and community-building within the paranormal field.

Horror, Occult, and Supernatural in Media

The Newkirks' influence extends into the cultural representation of horror, the occult, and supernatural themes in media. Their investigations and museum pieces have inspired stories, characters, and folklore discussions across television, books, and film. They provide a factual counterpoint to fictionalized accounts, offering firsthand narratives and documented research.

Their approach emphasizes ethical responsibility when discussing the occult and supernatural. By contextualizing haunted objects and occult practices, they provide educational resources for creators in the horror and paranormal genres. Their media presence has contributed to a more measured, research-oriented portrayal of supernatural phenomena.

Collaboration with filmmakers, authors, and media producers brings authenticity to modern depictions of the supernatural. The Newkirks work not only inform pop culture but also encourage a critical, informed dialogue about the boundaries between history, folklore, and paranormal phenomena.

Community, Consciousness, and Collaboration

The Newkirks emphasize building a network that brings together diverse paranormal perspectives. Their efforts often involve combining the insights of psychic mediums and experienced investigators to better understand unexplained phenomena.

Working with Psychic Mediums

Greg and Dana Newkirk frequently collaborate with psychic mediums to analyze and understand the consciousness associated with haunted objects. Mediums attempt to communicate with potential entities or energies attached to museum items, offering detailed impressions that guide further study. The process often includes holding, observing, or meditating with objects to engage their psychic senses.

Information gathered from these sessions is documented and compared with historical research or accounts from previous owners. The Newkirks use this data to build case files on each artifact, sometimes resulting in new theories about how consciousness and energy might linger around physical objects. Through structured collaboration, they establish clearer methodologies for integrating psychic insight with physical evidence.

Experiences from Paranormal Investigators

Paranormal investigators also play a significant role in the museum’s ongoing research. Many bring technical expertise, such as the use of EMF detectors, thermal cameras, or audio recorders, to gather measurable data during museum sessions or field investigations. These tools offer a contrasting but complementary perspective to the subjective experiences reported by psychic mediums.

At public exhibitions or live events, investigators often demonstrate their techniques, allowing audiences to observe how evidence is collected and analyzed. The Newkirks encourage collaboration between investigators and mediums, fostering a multifaceted approach to the study of the paranormal. The integration of these methods helps validate findings and encourages thoughtful discussions within the community.

The Newkirks: Traveling Museum of the Paranormal and Occult Explores Haunted Artifacts and Supernatural History