Ripley’s Round Trip: The World’s Most Mysterious Islands

An Island of… Criminals?

The notorious Alcatraz Island is a former maximum-security prison in the heart of San Francisco Bay. From 1934 to 1963, this imposing fortress housed some of America’s most dangerous criminals, including the likes of Al Capone and George “Machine Gun” Kelly. Known for its brutal conditions and dramatic escape attempts, Alcatraz has become a symbol of intrigue and mystery. Before its days as a prison, Alcatraz also served as a military fort and later a military prison during the Spanish-American War, adding even more layers of history to this island.

Straight Out of a Nightmare

What didn’t start out as a tourist destination has now become a hot spot for adventure travelers everywhere. Mexico’s Island of the Dolls, is a haunting location adorned with hundreds of decaying dolls hanging from trees. These eerie figures were placed there by the island’s caretaker, Julian Santana Barrera, in an attempt to appease the spirit of a young girl who tragically drowned nearby. Legend has it that Julian himself experienced inexplicable events and claimed to hear whispers in the night, which led him to spend over 50 years collecting and placing the dolls around the island. Some witnesses claim they had heard the dolls whispering to each other, while others who were on a boat near the island said the dolls lured them to come down to the island.

Island of the Dolls

Nuclear Wasteland

The Bikini Atoll in the Pacific Ocean is the site where 23 nuclear tests were conducted by the United States between 1946 and 1958. The local population was forcibly relocated, and the atoll was subjected to devastating nuclear explosions, including the infamous “Castle Bravo” test which resulted in widespread radioactive fallout, affecting nearby inhabited islands and even leading to the contamination of a Japanese fishing boat, causing international outrage and raising awareness of the dangers of nuclear testing.

An Island Filled with Graves

Let’s set our sights on New York City’s Hart Island, a somber potter’s field that has served as the final resting place for over a million unclaimed bodies since the 19th century. Managed by the Department of Correction, this island is home to mass graves and remains largely off-limits to the public. Throughout its history, Hart Island has also served as a Union Civil War prison camp, a tuberculosis sanatorium, and a Cold War missile base, adding to its eerie and somber atmosphere.

An Island of Restless Spirts

Immerse yourself in the dark history of Italy’s Poveglia Island, a place marked by suffering and death. In the 18th century, the island served as a quarantine station for victims of the bubonic plague, while in the early 20th century, it became a mental asylum notorious for its mistreatment of patients. Poveglia Island is believed to be haunted by the restless spirits of those who died there. The asylum’s dark history includes tales of a sadistic doctor who performed cruel experiments on patients, ultimately driving him to madness, and contributing to the island’s reputation as one of the most haunted places in the world.

Italy's Poveglia Island

Thank you for joining us on this adventure through history, tragedy, and the supernatural. Be sure to tune in next time for more extraordinary explorations on “Ripley’s Round Trip.” and until then, happy adventuring!

EXPLORE THE ODD IN PERSON!

Discover hundreds of strange and unusual artifacts and get hands-on with unbelievable interactives when you visit a Ripley’s Odditorium!

FIND AN ATTRACTION NEAR YOU

Source: Ripley’s Round Trip: The World’s Most Mysterious Islands

by Emily Harriss