Peter Excho invites Augustans to see the attractions of the strange and weird, the unusual and
bizarre, a world of oddities and curiosities at Pexcho’s American Dime Museum.
Excho considers himself a collector, but he doesn’t collect stamps or baseball cards, he collects
more unusual pieces like shrunken heads, wax figures and taxidermy pieces.
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“I was always collecting things as a kid,” he said. “I liked to collect bones. My dad taught me
how to clean them.”
The dime museum concept dates back to the 19th century and the days of P.T. Barnum, who
created a museum before he went into the circus business. The dime museum was for t
working class, and Excho’s museum is one of the last of its kind, he said.
He worked at the American Dime Museum in Baltimore, Md. in the 1990s. Richard “Dick”
Horne, who died in 2018, was the co-owner of that museum.
“I was not allowed to talk at the museum until I learned the history of the dime museum and
about the exhibits there,” he said. “He didn’t want me spouting off wrong information.”
Excho has operated dime museums in other locations. He moved to the area three years ago with
the idea of opening one in Augusta. He found the property on Sixth Street in the same block as
Hildebrandt’s, and it needed a lot of work.
At one time, the building operated as a parts supply store and has had other uses in its lifetime.
Excho transformed it into the museum, a coffee shop and a performing arts space.
An artist, Excho has used the space for art exhibitions as well.
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Performances were booming until COVID-19 hit and restrictions were placed on them.
Many of the performances were side show acts – sword swallowers, fire eaters and mentalists.
The oldest working sword swallower, John Red Stuart, is based out of the Augusta area after
being displaced due to the pandemic.
Although the shows have been greatly reduced, the museum itself is open for tours by
appointment.
Excho said he keeps the groups small to allow for social distancing. For larger groups, Excho
will have another tour guide and divide the group into smaller ones.
Featured at the Roadside America and Roadtrip America websites, the museum has a mix of
pieces from his collection, which he rotates to keep it interesting even for those who may have
already visited.
Admission is $14.28 for adults with children admitted free.
To learn more, visit www.facebook.com/americandimemuseum or call (225) 448-1453.
Charmain Z. Brackett is the Features Editor for The Augusta Press. Reach her at charmain@theaugustapress.com
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