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Jake's Place

What you truly go to Marsh’s to see is “Jake the Alligator Man” – a mummified half-man half-alligator. A cult figure in Northwestern culture, Jake has earned his own bumper sticker, has sold over 30,000 postcards and has been featured in the ever-amusing Weekly World News.

Venture if you dare to Marsh’s Free Museum, not just a pit stop for kitschy souvenirs but the lair of the legendary Jake the Alligator Man. This mummified marvel is more than a sideshow; he's a bona fide celebrity with scales.

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The true spectacle of Marsh's Free Museum is Jake, the half-gator, half-myth, all-star. Snatched up for a small fortune in the '60s, he's been the talk of the town ever since. With over 30,000 postcards to his name and a bumper sticker for every fan, Jake's escapades have filled the pages of the Weekly World News with tales of daring escapes, mysterious murders, and even the birth of an alligator baby.

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The legend of Jake doesn't stop at print. He's been the life of the party, from sideshow spins to nightclub twirls in drag, and even enjoyed a cigar or two in less-than-reputable establishments. Some say he's a founding father of freaks, as per a "doctor" in the Weekly World news article.

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Now, Jake enjoys his retirement encased in glass, adored by fans and flanked by Alligator Man merch. His origins remain shrouded in mystery, likely the handiwork of Homer Tate, the master of sideshow gaffs. This artist of the odd left a legacy of enigmas in the '40s and '50s, and Jake might just be his pièce de résistance.

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So come, witness the wonder and whimsy of Marsh’s Free Museum, where every corner holds a secret and every exhibit whispers a story.

Jake Timeline article
Jake's Birthday
Jake's Birthday
Jake's Birthday
Jake's Birthday

Jake's Birthday
August 1st
(coming back soon!)

Each year the town of Long Beach WA celebrates the birthday of their most unusual native son... Jake The Alligator Man. Jake, who is a resident of the world famous Marsh's Free Museum is known far and wide as one of the finest Alligator-men to ever crawl upon the shores of Washington.

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​During his annual birthday celebration, local residents choose a local maiden to become Jake's bride. They also hold a car show which attracts some of the most amazing custom cars and hot rods in the US.

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