The Annabelle doll has served as inspiration for several movies in The Conjuring franchise, raising the question of what exactly happened to the real version of the doll. The haunted Raggedy Ann doll has become one of the most popular characters in The Conjuring universe, earning it three incredibly successful movie spin-offs. Of course, the doll’s ability to scare audiences can be attributed to how Annabelle is made to look in the movies. However, the real-life version of the doll is not as scary as is depicted in the movies.

The real Annabelle doll has a creepy true story behind it, which makes it the perfect horror movie antagonist. In 1970, the doll was given to a Hartford nurse as a gift. However, the nurse and her roommate reportedly saw the doll move and attack the fiancée of one of the nurses. The Hartford nurse called in the famous paranormal experts, Ed and Lorraine Warren to investigate if the doll was haunted. The couple claimed the doll was possessed by the spirit of an outside entity and decided to perform an exorcism. After performing the exorcism, the Warrens took the Annabelle doll to their occult museum (via The Hollywood Reporter).

The Real Annabelle Doll Is Still In Ed & Lorraine Warren’s Museum

The real Annabelle doll has been in The Warren’s Occult Museum since 1970

The real Annabelle doll is still on display in Ed and Lorraine’s museum. It was moved to the Warren’s Occult Museum, which is located in Connecticut, in 1970. As one of the creepiest items in the museum, the allegedly-haunted doll is kept behind a glass case labeled “Warning, positively do not open”. The fact that the Warrens thought it was prudent to hide the doll behind a glass case and put a warrant is a testament to how terrified the paranormal investigators were of it.

How The Public Can See The Real Annabelle Doll

The public can see the Annabelle doll at The Warrens’ Seekers of the Supernatural Phantasma-Con

Unfortunately, the public is not allowed to see the real Annabelle doll in the museum. In 2014, Ed and Lorraine’s museum was closed down due to zoning laws that did not permit museums in the residential area (via CT Insider). However, it is still possible for people to see the real Annabelle doll whenever Tony Spera, Ed, and Lorraine’s son-in-law, who currently runs the museum, take it out. One of the places the public can see the real Annabelle doll is during The Warrens’ Seekers of the Supernatural Phantasma-Con, whose schedule can be found at Mohegan Sun.

The convention, which was rebranded from The Warrens’ Seekers of the Supernatural Paracon, displays all the findings from Ed and Lorraine’s paranormal cases. The Warrens’ Seekers of the Supernatural Phantasma-Con may not be the perfect solution for horror enthusiasts who want to see more of the real Annabelle doll, but it still offers an opportunity for people to have a glimpse of the artifact made famous by The Conjuring movies.

Sources: The Hollywood Reporter, CT Insider, Mohegan Sun