Leila's Hair Museum

Owner Leila Cohoon is confident that her museum "is quite possibly the only hair museum in the United States, maybe the world." Showcasing 200 hair wreaths and over 2,000 pieces of jewelry containing or made of human hair dating before 1900, she's probably right.

Leila's Hair Museum began with the opening of the Independence College of Cosmetology 39 years ago and has since expanded into an exhibition space for Cohoon's hairy treasures. Hair art was extremely popular in the Victorian age and many pieces from that era are on display at the museum -- one such piece is an 1853 floral tapestry made from the locks of 156 members of a single family. While some visitors are turned off by objects made of hair, most are interested in this rare medium of artistic expression. 815 W. 23rd St., Independence, MO 64055, tel. 816/252-4247. $3. Monday-Saturday 8-4:30. www.hairwork.com/leila