Ripley’s Believe It or Not museum gets family-friendly makeover

Tegan Van Itallie of Australia reads a description of a jigsaw puzzle of actor George Burns, right, on display at Ripley’s. The puzzle was made by Doug Powell of Oviedo, Fla., who used thousands of pieces from more than 90 puzzles, all bought at garage sales.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Sally Stead of Australia looks at a display case at Ripley’s showing a hand-knit sweater worn by Marilyn Monroe in a 1962 photo shoot in Santa Monica. At right is a portrait of Monroe by Christiam Ramos made entirely from nail polish.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Jasmine Diaz, 11, left, her father Ramon, sister Beatrice, 13, and mother Jocelyn look at Ripley’s mannequin of circus performer Edward Hagner (1892-1962) who was billed as “The World’s Thinnest Man” and grew to a height of 5 feet 7 inches but never weighed more than 50 pounds.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Jasmine Diaz, 11, of Guam stands inside the world’s largest tire on display at Ripley’s. Built by the Goodyear Tire and Rubber Co., the truck tire stands nearly 12 feet tall and weighs more than 6,500 pounds. It contains enough rubber to make 395 normal-sized tires.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Ryan Wiegert of Sherman Oaks and daughter Madilynne, 2 months, tour a Michael Jackson and Elvis Presley exhibit at Ripley’s. The portrait of Jackson, left, is made of candy and the portrait of Presley is made of butterfly wings.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Duy Bui, 8, and his mother, Thu Tran, of Los Angeles get a close-up look at Ripley’s mannequin of J.T. Taylors, a master “girner” who was able to put his lower lip over his nose.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)