# Museum exhibits for real? JFK's blood stains? Hitler's comb? Piece of the True Cross??? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [October 28, 2014, 8:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792 "2014-10-28T20:25:17Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/21 "2014-10-29T00:46:03Z")
More Hitler stuff. Hitler’s typewriter (Bessemer, AL) > **[Hitler's Typewriter, MLK's Jail Door, Bessemer, Alabama](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10067)** > > In the town museum, an infernal machine from Hitler's "Eagle's Nest" hideout, and the jail cell door from Martin Luther King Jr's local imprisonment. Hitler’s tea set (Anniston, AL) > **[Hitler's Tea Service and Spy Weapons, Anniston, Alabama](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10065)** > > Adolf Hitler's silver tea set and rare spy assassination weapons are two highlights at the Berman Museum of World History. ---
**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/22 "2014-10-29T00:49:33Z")
> [@Mangosteen](#): > > I heard they also had the original bill from the Last Supper, but its not on display anymore. With a mandatory 15% service charge for a party of 13. (Judas, who handled the group’s funds, was a notoriously bad tipper.) ---
**Author:** ![GreasyJack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/df705f/32.png) [@GreasyJack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GreasyJack)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/23 "2014-10-29T00:52:58Z")
> [@Accidental\_Martyr](#): > > More Hitler stuff. > Hitler’s typewriter (Bessemer, AL) > [Hitler's Typewriter, MLK's Jail Door, Bessemer, Alabama](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10067) > > Hitler’s tea set (Anniston, AL) > [Hitler's Tea Service and Spy Weapons, Anniston, Alabama](http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10065) And Hitler’s Toilet, which was until recently still in service at an auto repair shop: > **[Adolf Hitler's Toilet (Gone), Florence, New Jersey](https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/22714)** > > The crapper from Hitler's personal yacht flushed at Greg's Auto Repair. By 2015, the toilet (and sink) had been flown overseas to appear on TV shows; apparently not returning from England. ---
**Author:** ![Donnerwetter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Donnerwetter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Donnerwetter)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 12:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/24 "2014-10-29T12:00:54Z")
> [@Napier](#): > > OK, is this stuff for real? How do we know? I visited the Gettysburg Museum of History the other day and the place is just crammed full of amazing artifacts. But the whole point of them is that they are real; if they aren’t authentic, they become boring junk. How do we know the difference? > > They had Adolf Hitler artifacts including his comb and other grooming accessories, his teapot, his silverware set, an X-Ray of his head, his pillowcase and a bit of couch upholstery stained with his suicide blood. These Hitler artifacts are all bogus and it always surprises who easily people can be fooled. It is a proven fact that [Adolf Hitler lived to 95 with his Brazilian lover](http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/455810/The-INCREDIBLE-picture-that-proves-Adolf-Hitler-lived-to-95-with-his-Brazilian-lover). ---
**Author:** ![clairobscur](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/839c29/32.png) [@clairobscur](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/clairobscur)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 1:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/25 "2014-10-29T13:52:15Z")
> [@kayaker](#): > > ETA: Yikes, what if the first cross she touched was the True Cross, but there was a minute lag prior to effect? That’s early scientific method for you. Hypothesis : the true cross will heal the sick, experiment : bring in a sick woman, and publication in a bishop-reviewed article. Undisputable. ---
**Author:** ![Colophon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@Colophon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colophon)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/26 "2014-10-29T14:53:50Z")
Then there’s the story of the American tourist travelling in County Clare, Ireland, who came across a little antique shop in which he was lucky enough to pick up, for a mere 200 punts, the skull of Brian Boru. Included in the price was a certificate of the skull’s authenticity, signed by Brian Boru himself. Fifteen years later the tourist returned to Ireland and found himself back in the same shop. He asked the owner if he had any more bargains. ‘I’ve got the very thing for you,’ said the shopkeeper, ‘It’s the genuine skull of Brian Boru.’ ‘You cheat,’ yelled the American, ‘You sold me that 15 years ago, and THAT one was much bigger than this little thing!’ ‘Ah but that’s where yer wrong,’ says the shopkeeper. ‘This one here is the skull of Brian Boru when he was a lad.’ ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 3:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/27 "2014-10-29T15:56:57Z")
> [@Donnerwetter](#): > > These Hitler artifacts are all bogus and it always surprises who easily people can be fooled. It is a proven fact that [Adolf Hitler lived to 95 with his Brazilian lover](http://www.express.co.uk/news/weird/455810/The-INCREDIBLE-picture-that-proves-Adolf-Hitler-lived-to-95-with-his-Brazilian-lover). … who you can see preserved and mounted for display in Kennesaw, Georgia. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 5:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/28 "2014-10-29T17:08:32Z")
There’s probably a joke to be made about how many Holy Foreskins there are and how large baby Jesus was if they were all real, but I can’t figure out how to phrase it. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/29 "2014-10-29T17:10:49Z")
All I can say is that if Jesus really had 184 penises then truly thou wert the Son of God. ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 7:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/30 "2014-10-29T19:31:24Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Nothing beats the church in Paris with a reliquary that contains Jesus’ [prepuce](http://atheism.about.com/od/aboutjesus/a/holyforeskin.htm). I saw it. You may call me St. Exapno. > [@RivkahChaya](#): > > Since it’s supposed to be buried after the bris, that was quite a trick, finding it. I guess maybe it plays into that legend that the bodies of saints don’t decay, so all you’d have to do is figure out where it was buried… > [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > All I can say is that if Jesus really had 184 penises then truly thou wert the Son of God. See [Epiphany. Why is it called that?](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?t=546818) An enjoyable hijack to many, excluding OP. (Belated sorry…). ---
**Author:** ![Leo\_Bloom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/leo_bloom/32/10377_2.png) [@Leo\_Bloom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Leo_Bloom)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 7:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/31 "2014-10-29T19:39:22Z")
Don’t people knock wood for luck as a handmedown from True Cross superstition? But I just met a woman from Italy who says they don’t do that there, but “knock iron.” My guess–same idea, but with the iron nails. ---
**Author:** ![Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/46a35a/32.png) [@Tim\_T-Bonham.net](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tim_T-Bonham.net)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 7:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/32 "2014-10-29T19:55:02Z")
> [@Leo\_Bloom](#): > > Don’t people knock wood for luck as a handmedown from True Cross superstition? No, knock wood was a superstition from various Druidic & other pre-christian religions. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/33 "2014-10-29T21:47:42Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > With a mandatory 15% service charge for a party of 13. (Judas, who handled the group’s funds, was a notoriously bad tipper.) But, there was a handwritten note on the bill saying “No tip for you, because you are an adulterous woman.” It’s on Youtube. ---
**Author:** ![Ranger\_Jeff](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ranger_jeff/32/2065_2.png) [@Ranger\_Jeff](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ranger_Jeff)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2014, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/34 "2014-10-29T22:44:26Z")
I saw on television that Father Guido Sarducci got the check from the last supper on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. 12 of them ordered the fish special and one ordered the roast beef dinner. YET, in another hand on the check, you can see someone had divided the total check by 13 even though the RB dinner was more expensive. That was probably Judas. ---
**Author:** ![handsomeharry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/e9c0ed/32.png) [@handsomeharry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/handsomeharry)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/35 "2014-10-30T05:12:29Z")
> [@babygoat666](#): > > I’m guessing they have very rigid standards for provenance, but if anyone has a more specific answer I’m also curious. I’m guessing that the very rigid proofs of provenance are just as easy to counterfeit as the item itself. “Wow! Is that a _real_ _document_???” ---
**Author:** ![appleciders](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/85f322/32.png) [@appleciders](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/appleciders)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 7:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/36 "2014-10-30T07:32:21Z")
> [@Leaffan](#): > > Real cross? I thought we weren’t even sure that Jesus himself was real? Secular historians are almost universally in agreement that there was a real, historical person named Yeshua (which becomes “Jesus” after you translate it into English through Latin and Greek) who was baptized by John and crucified by the Romans. Other details of his life, like that his hometown was Nazareth, that he gathered followers and wandered around Galilee preaching, that he debated Jewish authorities about religion, and other broad-strokes information about his life are accepted by many historians, though those sorts of points are debated academically. There are good historians who think that some of the specific sayings, parables, and stories attributed to Jesus in the Gospels may actually originate with the historical Jesus, but there is lots of disagreement on those points and there really isn’t academic consensus on the issue. There have been extensive debates on the topic on this board, and the [Wikipedia article](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Historicity_of_Jesus)on the subject is pretty good, though a little short for my taste. Honestly, those books you see claiming that he didn’t exist are mostly bad history from people who know they’ll sell more books if they make the claim that Jesus didn’t exist than the reverse. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 11:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/37 "2014-10-30T11:49:02Z")
> [@handsomeharry](#): > > I’m guessing that the very rigid proofs of provenance are just as easy to counterfeit as the item itself. > “Wow! Is that a _real_ _document_???” "Wait a minute. His name wasn’t spelled Pilot, was it? ":dubious: ---
**Author:** ![dba\_Fred](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c37758/32.png) [@dba\_Fred](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dba_Fred)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 12:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/38 "2014-10-30T12:40:06Z")
> [@Exapno\_Mapcase](#): > > Nothing beats the church in Paris with a reliquary that contains Jesus’ [prepuce](http://atheism.about.com/od/aboutjesus/a/holyforeskin.htm). I saw it. You may call me St. Exapno. I remember you from a DopeFest - You were the one going around saying “Shake the sainted hand of the hand that shook Jesus’ …” ---
**Author:** ![APB](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/8e8cbc/32.png) [@APB](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/APB)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 1:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/39 "2014-10-30T13:22:36Z")
> [@Yllaria](#): > > Looks like it’s in a proper gold reliquary. I’m sure the reliquary can be traced and dated. I’d be willing to believe that they have sufficient proof that the reliquary is authentic. I doubt very much that the reliquary is either old or interesting. Another example of almost exactly the same design can be found on [this website](http://miracle-witness.blogspot.co.uk/2011/04/true-cross.html) and its owner says that they recently saw another one being advertised. They may even be mass produced (pun not intended). ---
**Author:** ![SciFiSam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/47e85d/32.png) [@SciFiSam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SciFiSam)\ **Post date:** [October 30, 2014, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792/40 "2014-10-30T13:24:57Z")
It’s been pretty well attested that they were never claiming that the “true cross” really was the true cross Jesus was on. I’ve been to the same museum and if it had had a plaque saying “this is the cross Jesus was on,” I wouldn’t have been able to get it for all the believers besieging me. It’s just a relic - something that, in the middle ages, was considered to be from Jesus or the apostles. Its continued existence since then is what lends it value. People worshipped at this thing for a long time, and it still exists. The other stuff you mention can be confirmed or not by DNA tests or at least by early photographs with those items in them, or other historical provenances. They don’t just make things up. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/museum-exhibits-for-real-jfks-blood-stains-hitlers-comb-piece-of-the-true-cross/702792.md?page=3)