Leila’s Hair Museum lives on

Leila’s Hair Museum lives on

December 17, 2025 · 27 min

About this episode

The episode explores the legacy of Leila Cohoon and the future of her unique hair museum after her passing.

Since 1956, Leila Cohoon had amassed the world’s largest collection of hair art and jewelry — intricate works made of human hair. Her museum in Independence, Missouri, was the only one of its kind. But when Cohoon died last year, the future of this Kansas City institution — and the unusual tradition it preserved — was suddenly an open question. Suzanne Hogan speaks to KCUR’s Julie Denesha to find the answer.

People in this episode

Host: Suzanne Hogan

Guest: Julie Denesha

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Leila’s Hair Museum, KCUR

Places: Independence, Missouri

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