Humans have played with dolls for thousands of years, but it was not until the 18th century, when improved manufacturing rendered them more lifelike, that they started to be seen as sinister. Doll makers pivoted to porcelain skin, glass eyes, and wigs made of human hair, creating children and babies whose uncanniness to real people made them more unnerving than lovable. Later, in the Victorian Era, “mourning dolls” became a common way to remember deceased children, wearing their clothes and even sitting atop their coffins. Throw in Chucky, Annabelle, Slappy the Dummy, and numerous other evil dolls from pop culture, and boom: Dolls = creepy.

At these places around the world, dolls and other eerie toys are the main attraction. Some spots are happy-go-lucky art projects that, despite their creator’s intentions, still have the power to unsettle visitors. Others were always shrouded in darkness, created to showcase murders and mysteries.…