Baltimore, MD (February 7, 2019) – Legendary Fertility Statues that have been credited with helping thousands of happy couples conceive have arrived at Baltimore’s weirdest spot – Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Inner Harbor. Just in time for Valentine’s Day, these powerful statues will be on display starting February 11, 2019 and free for guests to see and touch.

The iconic Fertility Statues, originating from West Africa, will remain in Baltimore through the third week of March.

While admission is required for entrance to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not Odditorium, the Fertility Statues have been positioned in the museum lobby allowing free access for those who wish to touch the legendary works of art.

Ripley’s acquired the statues, which measure 5-feet-tall and weigh more than 70 lbs each, in 1993. The statues are made from ebony wood and were hand-carved by craftsman of the Baulé tribe of the West African nation of Cote D’Ivoire in the 1930s.

West African nation of Cote D’Ivoire in the 1930s.

THE LEGEND

According to tribal legend, to ensure a couple’s fertility, the statues should be placed on both sides of the doorway leading into the bedroom. If a woman or her spouse touches either statue as they enter the room, they will soon get pregnant.

While Ripley’s cannot loan the statues to prospective parents for their bedrooms, the power of the statues is still strong. Thousands of women have written to Ripley’s claiming that after years of trying to conceive, one rub of the statues soon brought a bundle of joy.

THE BABY BOOM

When Ripley’s first received the statues in 1993, they were displayed at their Headquarters. A few months later, Ripley’s experienced a Baby Boom! Six employees became pregnant after touching the statues, and word started to spread. Women requested to visit the office just to touch the statues.

Over the years, Ripley’s has received countless messages from couples. Here are a few of their very personal stories:

VICTORIA
I came to see the statues in London in November, and although it is in its early days, I am pregnant!

MELISSA
I had been unsuccessful for a few months trying to get pregnant through fertility treatments. I went on a two-week European vacation. Our last stop was London to touch the fertility statues. A few weeks later I returned to the States, and my next treatment was successful! We had a baby girl in March!

LAUREN
We had a long road trying to get pregnant. I went to the Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Odditorium and rubbed both statues, and within 48 hours we learned we were pregnant.

SAMANTHA
We were trying for about two years, and the doctors told us they didn’t think it would be possible for us to have children. The statues were something that we thought “Why not give it a try?” So we did, and here she is, and I would touch them again.

BACK ON TOUR

Take advantage of the opportunity to visit the statues before they leave on March 17, 2019! Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Baltimore is located at 301 Light St. Pavilion and is open 365 days of the year. See website for attraction hours.

To keep up-to-date with future tour dates, please visit Ripleys.com/fertility-statues

ORIGIN OF THE STATUES

Ripley’s Believe it or Not! Legendary Fertility Statues from Ripley’s Believe It or Not! on Vimeo.

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Media Contacts

Suzanne Smagala-Potts
Public Relations Manager
Ripley Entertainment Inc.
smagala@ripleys.com
Office: 407-345-8010 Cell: 727-439-0136

 
Sarah Mitchell
General Manager
Ripley’s Believe It or Not! Baltimore
mitchell@ripleys.com
Office: 443-615-7878

About Ripley Entertainment

Ripley’s Believe It or Not! is part of the Ripley Entertainment Inc. (www.ripleys.com) family of worldwide attractions, the global leader in location-based entertainment.  More than 14 million people visit its 100-plus attractions in 10 countries each year. In addition to its 30 Believe It or Not! Odditoriums, the Orlando, Florida-based company has publishing, licensing and broadcast divisions that oversee projects including the syndicated Believe It or Not! television show, best-selling books and the popular syndicated cartoon strip, Ripley’s Believe It or Not!, that still runs daily in countries around the world. Ripley Entertainment is a Jim Pattison Company, the second-largest privately held company in Canada.

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