Tattoo History Museum

For centuries, humans have used tattoos for a myriad of reasons - for magical protection, to relieve pain, for vengeance and to declare victory over an enemy. Historically, tattoos were created to beautify, shock, or humiliate and they could proclaim valor, religious belief, group solidarity, or personal independence. Tattoos are now a regular part of everyday society with more than one in three of all North Americans aged  18 to 30 years old having at least one tattoo.

Ancient to Modern History

Tattoo history spans ancient to modern, from tattooed mummies and North America's First Nations people to circus tattoos. The Tattoo Museum index shows all the sections of our Tattoo Museum.