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Volo Auto Museum offers free entry to Crime, Punishment Hall Feb. 14-16

The Volo Auto Museum's Crime and Punishment Hall, featuring gangster-era memorabilia and more, will be open free to curious Valentine's Day weekend visitors. Entry to this exhibit normally incurs an additional charge. Regular museum admission applies.
The Volo Auto Museum's Crime and Punishment Hall, featuring gangster-era memorabilia and more, will be open free to curious Valentine's Day weekend visitors. Entry to this exhibit normally incurs an additional charge. Regular museum admission applies. (Cynthia Wolf | Wolf Wordsmithing)

VOLO — If your love is more into mobster lore than candy stores, the Volo Auto Museum offers a Valentine's weekend score.

The museum’s Crime and Punishment Hall, a special exhibit that normally requires a separate admission fee to enter, will be open free to all museum guests this Friday through Sunday, Feb. 14-16.

“Not everyone is into flowers and chocolates,” said Brian Grams, director of the museum at 27582 Volo Village Road. “Bring your date to our museum Feb. 14-16 to enjoy all of our many displays, and explore our most macabre exhibit for free.”

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The hall features everything from gangster-era memorabilia to medieval torture devices, including a gibbet, rat cage and scold’s bridles. Large storyboards detail the histories of several Chicago mobsters and gangster-era events, including the St. Valentine's Day Massacre of 1929.

Caution: Viewing may not be suitable for young children.

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The museum acquired the bulk of its collection of crime and punishment curiosities in 2018 from the estate of a showman who traveled the country exhibiting them during the early 1900s and into the 1940s, when he was found with a gunshot wound to the head, Grams said.

Volo Auto Museum has been expanding exhibits well beyond its staple of hundreds of classic, muscle and film-famous cars for several years. The museum now is home to an array of music machines, animatronic amusements and Disney artifacts as well as everything from vintage pedal cars to scooters, snowmobiles and RVs.

The museum is open 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. Admission is $15.95 for adults, $8.95 for children ages 5 to 12 and free for children 4 and younger. For other information, call 815-385-3644, visit volocars.com or find Volo Auto Museum on Facebook.

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