A successful hoax has to be intriguing enough to peak the interests of most and believed by many. Setting up a successful hoax takes strategy, and manipulation. An example of a triumphant hoax, is that of Barnum’s Feejee Mermaid; a monkey stitched to a fish, which was exhibited and thought by the public to be a real Mermaid. Barnum was able to make people believe in the Feejee Mermaid by using fabricated information, publicity, and a persuasive tone to allure his audience. Barnum made the Feejee Mermaid a spectacle, publishing about it in local newspapers, therefor peaking the publics interest. Attaching his findings to distant experiences and truths of others, allowed Barnum to strengthen his claims. Other sea creatures where out there, why couldn’t the tangible Feejee Mermaid just an addition to the series? To validate his hoax, Barnum also emphasized that several others had claimed to see mermaids, and he finally had the evidence to validate their claims. Barnum was able to persuade the public into believing what they were interested in and wanted to hear. A monkey sewn to a fish does not look like Ariel from the little Mermaid; but Barnum was able to manipulate people by making them see what they were so inquisitive of: the unknown. Barnum gave a palpable meaning to the unknown. The Feejee Mermaid, shows that a believable hoax is one that is not unheard of. A good hoax is one that people are so curious about, that with the sufficient amount of (even false) evidence, they are willing to accept it as truth. A successful hoax gives people hope of a new discovery. Society continues to evolve and discover new frontiers; when individuals feel they can be part of these progressions they get enthralled. Strong hoaxes, like Barnum’s, give people excitement that they can be part of new and ground-breaking history.