MADAME TUSSAUDS, History

Now let me tell you the story of the museum's founder.

Marie Grosholz, who once married took on the name Tussaud, was an Alsatian girl who was born in Strasbourg in 1761. Her mother was the maid of a doctor from Bern who was specialized in the preparation of accurate wax models for studying and teaching anatomy.

Ever since she was young, Marie showed a special talent for sculpture and eventually became the doctor's assistant, where she demonstrated her ability to capture, interpret, shape, and color even the smallest details.

She moved to Paris and at the young age of sixteen made a wax statue of the famous philosopher Voltaire: the work was so successful that the young artist became the teacher of King Louis XVI's sister and went to live in the Palace of Versailles. Later she had the opportunity to make wax statues of famous figures such as the philosopher Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the American statesman Benjamin Franklin....