Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata

An intimate, in-home museum preserving endangered collecting modes with eclectic artifacts.

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The Experience

Cozy, hipster-eclectic, whimsically strange

A Cabinet of Curiosities in East Austin

Nestled within the home of its passionate curators, Jen and Scott Webel, the Museum of Natural & Artificial Ephemerata (MNAE) stands as a rare bastion of in-home, family-run museums. Its mission is to safeguard unique and endangered methods of collecting, drawing inspiration from historical practices like saintly relics, cabinets of curiosities (wunderkammern), and the intriguing world of dime museums.

Six Interwoven Collections

Visitors are invited to explore six distinct yet interconnected collections that form the museum's "impermanent collection." These displays are a testament to the founders' eclectic tastes and dedication to storytelling. Among the treasures are celebrity memorabilia, such as clippings of Elvis Presley's sideburns and Marilyn Monroe's last cigarette, alongside natural wonders like a four-foot narwhal tooth and a contraband stalactite. The collections also delve into the peculiar with a dedicated wing to "Sleep," a "Snowglobe Collection," and an "Urban Phantasmagoria," all curated to challenge perceptions of truth, nature, and permanence.

How to Find It

Located in the backyard of the Webel residence.

Know Before You Go

Tours are led by the curators and are donation-based. Arrive ready for a deeply personal and unique experience, as the museum is housed within their home.