9-23-24

Mark Racop became interested in Batman when he was two-years-old, and over the years he has amassed a collection of over 2,500 pieces of Batman memorabilia. Now, that collection, and more, will be on display starting on October 31st of this year, at the Fiberglass Freaks’ Batman Museum at 525 East Market Street in downtown Logansport, Indiana.

Racop owns Fiberglass Freaks, the only company in the world that is licensed to sell and build 1966 Batmobile replicas. He said over the years people have donated hundreds of Batman items to the business and he has also received items for birthdays and Christmas. Because of his collection, he said people suggested he put them in a museum.

“The Hollywood Museum had a ‘66 Batman’ exhibit, and it was their most successful exhibit ever,” Racop said. “But it was just a temporary exhibit, and I thought, ‘if we do it, it will be a more extravagant, permanent exhibit.’ And that really cemented it. As soon as I saw that their exhibit was so successful, I said, ‘well, we’re definitely going to do this.’”

According to Racop, he purchased the building in December 2019. The museum will be broken up into seven rooms on two different floors, totaling 7,284 square feet. Included are a replica of the Wayne Manor Study, with a sliding bookcase, a theater, the Rogues Gallery, which will feature statues of Batman villains Joker, Riddler, Penguin, Catwoman, and the Mad Hatter for photo ops, Racop said.

A screen-used Penguin jacket worn by actor Burgess Meredith in a third season episode of BATMAN, and a Riddler costume worn by actor Frank Gorshin in the 2003 movie RETURN TO THE BATCAVE will be on display, along with several autographed items. He said he is hoping to add more screen-used items soon.

“Downstairs is the Batcave, which is set up in three different sections. The first section will be devoted to Fiberglass Freaks, my company that builds the Batmobile replicas. The second section is the Batcave proper, where people will see statues of Batman and Robin, standing in front of the Batmobile and the nuclear reactor called the Atomic Pile, all labeled, naturally.

You’ll see large photos of our Batmobiles and also of the original Batmobile as it was being built and what it was before it became the Batmobile,” Racop said.

“It’s going to be a ton of fun for people to be able to see Batcave equipment, like the Bat Computer, and the flashing lights that were part of the Batcave equipment,” Racop said.

Then in the final room, there will be a Batgirl statue, Batgirl Cycle, a 1955 Lincoln Futura replica sculpture, as well as a King Tut statue on display.”

The museum will also have a gift shop area with shirts, hats, mugs, model kits, and action figures, Racop said.

Racop said the museum will be a draw for Logansport. Restaurants, hotels and other museums in the area will benefit from the Fiberglass Freaks’ Batman Museum.

“There’s a place called Hall of Heroes in Elkhart, Indiana,” Racop said. “It’s a general superhero museum, so it covers all types of characters, both Marvel and DC, and they have over 10,000 people a year come to it from all across the country. If we can hit even hit half that, I will be absolutely thrilled.”