Lost Souls, Found Dolls
- etickle1
- Feb 16, 2021
- 3 min read
Over half a century ago, the body of a young girl that has yet to be named washed up on the shore of an island 11 miles deep within the Xochimilco canals. Did she drown, was she strangled, was she left to fend for herself within the murky depths? Nobody knows for certain. Being so far off of the coast, it’s a wonder how her body was found. Though this island was not completely uninhabited by humanity.
A man by the name of Don Julian Santana Barrera had left his wife and child to live a life of seclusion on the island that lies within the canal. Little did he know that he would happen upon the deceased child. Some claim it to be merely the imaginings of a deranged man, while others believe in the legitimacy of the young girl. Regardless, the young girl was buried on the island. Though a body was never found. Shortly after Santana had found the body, a doll washed up on the shore of his island. He had thought it belonged to the girl and had decided to hang it up. Some sources say it was to honor the deceased, others say it was to prevent the vengeful spirit of this young girl coming back to haunt the island and whomever came across it.
From that moment on, he became the self proclaimed caretaker of this island. One doll quickly turned to hundreds and the island became known as the Isla de las Muñecas (The Island of the Dolls). He picked them up from wherever he could find them. The canal close to his home, lying within the trash. As the story goes, he felt as if this was a way to appease the spirit of the little girl. More and more dolls piled on top of each other, hung from trees, stationed on fences, all decaying and falling apart. And yet it creates something beautiful out of something so tragic. Unfortunately the island's beloved caretaker has not walked in this world for 20 years now. He died on the island he worked so diligently on, supposedly of a heart attack. Some may speculate, however, that the spirit of the little girl was no longer satisfied with the offerings provided. So she decided to drag this man into the afterlife to be with her and play for all of eternity.
Regardless of the reason behind its creation, I find this attraction to be macabrely breathtaking. Knowing the story as it stands, whether you believe the body to be a figment or reality, there’s something wonderful about taking the old and turning it into a work of art. And in honor of one that was taken far too young is such a sweet thing to do (despite the darker exterior). Especially one so vast as to take up the entirety of an island. Not to mention I find dolls to be incredibly fascinating objects and have taken up the hobby of repainting them myself. Though I can understand how the decay of the island can contribute to feelings of terror. Dolls themselves can be terrifying in nature because the closer a doll resembles a human, the more unsettling it becomes. Hitting what is known as the uncanny valley. Not only that, but tales of haunted dolls have been around for quite some time, these tales even inspiring such movies as Annabelle.
Due to the current standing of the world, it’s difficult to travel so I haven’t been able to visit it myself. Though someday, this is an attraction I would love to go and visit. The photographs taken on this island have only piqued my interest further. Though some of the tourist reviews claim it to be a trap full of people just trying to sell you things, I find that to be typical of any tourist attraction. It's a once in a lifetime type of experience and when the day comes I do get to visit this shrine of dolls, I’ll be sure to include my own pictures here.
Let me know what you think! Do you find dolls horrifying or macabrely intriguing? Would you venture forth and visit this island shrine of dolls?
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