A large section of travelers is always attracted to historical places, archaeological ruins and museums when they are on their traveling spree. Given to me, I would go to the Smithsonian Institute of Science and Technology as it houses almost all known inventions in original. There are many other museums that abound the world which are specific to one subject or theme, like the Telephone History Museum in Moscow, the Quran Museum and Carpet Museum in Tehran, the Sikh Era Relics section in Lahore Museum, Museum of Broken Relationships - Zagreb, Croatia, and many more.
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| Arnold unveiled a bronze statue of his Mr. Universe days when inaugurating museum dedicated to him |
But how would you like to visit a museum dedicated that muscular giant who once thronged the action movies, specially the Terminator series? Yes, I am talking of Arnold Schwarzenegger and the museum dedicated to him in his native country Austria.
The museum, as a tribute to a man of the soil by the Austrians was inaugurated July 2011 last year by none other than the man himself - Mr Arnold Schwarzenegger. While inaugurating the museum, Arnold pulled a string to unveil a bronze statue of a young Arnold flexing in the skintight trunks of his Mr. Universe days.
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| The Schwarzenegger's House turned museum where Arnold lived from 1947-66 |
The museum is housed in the native house of Schwarzenegger family in the village of Thal, near the city of Graz, where Arnold lived from 1947 to 1966. A plaque by the door reads "Arnold Schwarzenegger's Birth House Museum." It is another thing that Arnold was born not in the house but a nearby hospital. But the house is the one where a crying and frowning would-be body builder child arrived straight from the hospital - a house that shaped his body building future, that was a cue for much greater glories in the Hollywood and US political scene.
In 1947, the village of Thal was a humble beginning for the young Arnold as it did not have modern facilities or even the basic facilities like electricity and gas. Thus the house still preserves its original pit toilet, and a 1950s kitchen, with a washstand and jugs for collecting water.
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| Steel bed of young Arnold under photographs studded walls |
The museum houses Arnold's first barbell, which probably formed the basis of young Arnold's quest to become a body builder. Besides there are photos of a young 'Arnie' as he is lovably called, with his parents and siblings,his childhood metal bed that he slept on as a youth and a Harley Davidson motorbike from one of the Terminator films, a sword from Conan the Barbarian, besides trophies and photographs from his early days of bodybuilding.
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| Harley Davidson from one of Arnold's Terminator movies |
There are life size massive "Terminator" statues which brought glory and fame to this muscular giant actor, now turned politician. Though he has left Austria for good for seeking glory and fame in the USA, his native Austrians still love and adore him.They have in the museum a model of the wooden desk he used while California's governor.
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| Arnold's office as California's governor has also been replicated in the museum |
There are many statues and photographs, artfully decorated in various parts of the museum like the one's shown below:
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| Arnold personaly explained the background of some of his photos to visitors |
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| Amused Arnold touches his giant life size bronze statue outside the museum |
If you are one of Arnold's fans and happen to be in Austria sometimes, do make your plans tailored for a visit to the Arnold Schwarzenegger Birth House Museum in the village of Thal. You would feel as if Arnold is here, somewhere....
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