The Midnight Museum

All photographs in this blog belong to Mary-Elizabeth McCarroll, Steve Santini and the Midnight Museum. Do not Copy, Duplicate or Alter photographs without written permission of the above mentioned.

First and foremost, I feel I must introduce you to Steve Santini because to know something of Steve, is to understand what the Midnight Museum is about.  When you first meet Steve, you feel slightly intimidated because his large size is almost scary, but his warm smile and firm handshake immediately put you at ease.  In fact Steve is one of the most sincere and genuine people I have ever met.

Steve Santini

Friday the 13^th has always been an infamous date throughout history, but there are some who believe that, Friday the 13, is lucky and historian Steve ‘Black Eagle’ Santini is one of them.  You may recognize Steve from his television show “Deals from the Dark Side” or as Canada’s death defying escape artist. What you may not know, is that Steve has been collecting rare artifacts since he was 14.

When Steve was a young child his parents took him to Ripley’s Believe it or Not, while they were vacationing in Florida. After seeing the interesting and bizarre artifacts there, Steve’s love of history, the strange and the bizarre was born. This set the future for a life filled with travel, searching for and collecting rare artifacts, as well as meeting people from all around the globe: professionals in science, history, archaeology, and many who shared the same interest.


As Steve grew, so did his passion for collecting dark and rare pieces from the past. His

The Pear of Anguish

pieces range from the macabre to Houdini and everything in between.  Pieces from the Viking period, the Titanic and the Middle Ages vie for space with pieces from histories darker side.Steve kept his pieces in his Museum in his home, but really wanted a space in order to share his treasures with others and that is why he has opened The Midnight Museum. It is a little spot on the main street in Sauble Beach, where Steve has managed to display, only some, of his vast collection.  Each artifact is well labeled, explaining valuable information about the piece and Steve himself wanders around and willing discusses the history behind them.

When you first enter the museum you will walk into a large room with a small gift shop in the corner. Waiting to welcome you is Steve and his family.  Steve is very knowledgeable about all periods in history and loves to share this knowledge with you and takes time to answer your questions, leaving you with a small glimpse of how passionate Steve is about collecting and how it drives him to seek out more items to add. He escorts you to the entrance of the museum and leaves you to wander as you please. The first thing I thing that caught my eye upon entering was the chair at the far end of the room. I was drawn to it almost like a moth to a flame.  As I started to walk toward it I couldn't help but look at the display cases on either side which contain Viking artifacts dating before the 10^th century.   I can’t help but mention the huge iron and bronze Viking padlock which was discovered on the Baltic Coast near Latvia but there was so much more, ax heads, tools, spears and rare bronze Viking offering bowl, and jewelry.  Most of all is Steve’s favorite piece a rare gold miniature Viking boat, which would have been buried with a very important person. 

Titanic Deck Chair

Still I continue to head towards “the chair”My parents, on the other hand gravitate to the left discovering artifacts that are from a later period and remind you of just how cruel and terrible life would have been for those that stepped on the wrong side of society.Slowly I make my way to the chair that I was so anxious to see and learn more about.   The chair that I speak about is an authentic deck chair that was on the RMS Titanic the night she sunk into the Atlantic Ocean. The deck chair is in remarkable condition for a 100 year old piece of debris, from one of the world’s most famous ship wrecks. On the deck chair is a life vest that was used during the early 19^th century. As I was reading about the deck chair and the life vest, I become aware that someone is standing next to me. Who was it you may ask? It was none other than….. My mom lol. She pointed out to me that people wearing the life vest were kept afloat by cork covered by canvas.  I never knew what was used in a life vest 100 years ago, but I didn't even think about cork. Guess you learn something new every day – that day I happened to learn about life vests and corks.

Jack the Ripper Knife

Steve is always close by, and willing to share his knowledge about his collection and how some of the pieces were used. For example the shin crushers were place over the victim’s shins and were slowly tightened until the victim confessed or passed out from pain. The reasoning why executioners wore masks, and the difference in using an axe and a sword when preforming an execution. There was so much to discover and see but I have to say that one of the most surprising pieces I saw was that of the knife that Jack the Ripper used in England.

After walking through the museum, not only did my love of history deepen but so did my thirst to learn more about these articles, so I decided to walk through it again with Steve to gain a little more insight, about his collection, what made him choose these pieces to place in the Midnight museum and where he hopes to go in the future. 

When looking for a new piece of history to add to his collection, Steve says the piece has to speak to him, needs to fit in with the theme “A Cautionary Tale”, and compliment the “family” of items that are already part of his collection.  What will we see the next time we visit the “Midnight Museum”?

If you would like to visit The Midnight Museum it is located at 307 Main Street, in Sauble Beach, Ontario Canada (Right beside the Dairy Queen). Hours of operation are 2:00 PM - 9:00 PM every Tuesday - Sunday. Admission $10.00 CAD per person - Visitors assume all responsibility for personal sensitivities  

Below are just a few of the artifacts you can see at the Midnight Museum.

Victim's skull of a 16th century Execution

Executioner's Sword

Iron Torture Crown

Inquisition Holy Water Holder

Scottish Hangman's Hood

Kapala Skull Cap

Demon Dagger

Crucifixion Nail 

Executioner Cloak

Mask of Shame

Gold Viking Burial Boat