Smithsonian Magazine · People & society

Serial Killer Exhibition Opens in Chicago

A new exhibition in Chicago, "Serial Killer: The Exhibition," features over 2,000 artifacts from approximately 150 serial killers worldwide, aiming to present true crime's reality.

The exhibition showcases personal belongings, investigative evidence, and artworks, including pieces from notorious figures like John Wayne Gacy and H.H. Holmes. Consultant John Borowski highlights the unique scale of the collection.

John Wayne Gacy, a Chicago-area killer, is prominently featured with some of his paintings, some of which are being shown publicly for the first time. These works were previously held by individuals who knew him, including a lawyer from his defense team.

The collection also includes items related to other Chicago-area killers such as H.H. Holmes, Richard Speck, the Ripper Crew, and Tillie Klimek.

The term "serial killer" is noted to have origins with FBI investigator Robert Ressler, though a German translation was used earlier.

This exhibition, billed as the world's largest private collection of such artifacts, previously toured Europe and Atlanta, drawing over 500,000 visitors globally. The Chicago showing runs through January.

Organizers emphasize that the exhibition does not glorify killers but aims to explore criminal psychology, law enforcement aspects, and dedicate space to victims, seeking to offer closure to families.

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