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Home » Things To Do

The Unclaimed Baggage Center

Last Updated: May 2, 2023 · 5 Comments

Have you ever wondered what happens with unclaimed luggage and unclaimed items in the United States?  Most of it winds up at the Unclaimed Baggage Center in Scottsboro, Alabama. When a domestic airline has an unclaimed item, it eventually makes its way to the UBC. In fact, more than 7,000 new items are stocked daily thanks to the purchasing agreements that UBC has with airlines (and other transportation companies).

Column plastered with money inside the Unclaimed Baggage Center.
Columns at Entrance to Unclaimed Baggage Center
Jump to:
  • The Story of Unclaimed Baggage Center
  • The Baggage Experience
  • Some Other-Worldly Treasures Found at Unclaimed Baggage Center
  • Found Treasures Museum
  • Safeguarding Your Personal Items
  • Unclaimed Baggage Center Location
  • Hours of Operation at the Unclaimed Baggage Center
  • Can't make it to the Unclaimed Baggage Center?

The center has been featured on shows such as National Geographic, The Oprah Winfrey Show, The Late Show with David Letterman, and Good Morning America.  It's become a top tourist attraction in North Alabama.

Some of the merchandise that they carry is from lost cargo.  In case you were not aware, airlines have 90 days to locate the owner of a lost piece of luggage.  After that, it is bought by Unclaimed Baggage Center.

Rows of scarves for sale.

Once at Unclaimed Baggage Center, contents are sorted.   Clothing items that can be sold are dry-cleaned.  Jewelry is appraised.  Electronic items have personal data erased and current software is installed.  Many employees have years of experience in pricing the items, which retail at UBC at 20-80% off of regular retail prices.

The Story of Unclaimed Baggage Center

In 1970, Doyle Owens got a $300 loan and borrowed a pick-up truck and headed to Washington, D.C. and made his first purchase of unclaimed baggage from Trailways bus line.  He sold the items on card tables in an old rented house with much success. A month later he quit his full-time insurance job to become the "bag man" on a full-time basis.

The business was run by Doyle, his wife, and two sons for the next forty years.  In 1995, his son purchased the business from him.

Over the years Unclaimed Baggage Center has expanded so that it now encompasses an entire city block in Scottsboro, Alabama.  It has been featured on news outlets over the years and written about in books.

Some of the finds at the center include a full suit of armor made in the 19th century, a 5.7-carat diamond ring, a live rattlesnake, and a set of bagpipes. If that doesn't seem unusual enough, can you imagine being the employee that found a shrunken head?

A shrunken head on display.
Shrunken Head

Unclaimed Baggage Center operates the largest dry cleaning facility in the state of Alabama.  They are also one of the largest donors to the Lions Club in the World, having donated hundreds of thousands of pairs of glasses over the years.

Gold rings for sale in a display case.

In 2021, over 2 million bags were reported as lost (0.51% of all checked bags). This amount of lost luggage is down from Pre-COVID-19 numbers which were higher with a 0.59% loss.

High heel shoes in leopard print and a gold purse on display.

You may notice brand-new items. The Unclaimed Baggage Center also buys unclaimed cargo.

FYI: An extensive three-month search takes place to try to unite all lost luggage and its original owners.

Sunglasses on display.
Designer Sunglasses

TIP: When you fly, do not put medications or valuables in your checked luggage. Always put them in your carry-on item.

Diario de um Banana - book in Portuguese for sale at the Unclaimed Baggage Center.
Books in Foreign Languages

The Baggage Experience

Want to see what it is like to unpack a suitcase that has been lost?  Be sure to sign up when you arrive for your chance.  A lucky visitor will be chosen to do just that.

Aside from the original owner of the luggage, only one other person has seen what was inside - that is to ensure that there are not any unwelcome surprises (remember that rattlesnake mentioned earlier?).

The lucky person will wear a smock and gloves for protection and will get to go through the bag.  On my recent trip, Katy from Katy Did Country was chosen.  The suitcase that she unpacked had treasures from Russia.  Inside were three Matryoshka (nesting) dolls.

Russian nesting dolls painted as NFL football players.

There were also souvenir Matryoshka keychains that the original owner was sure to give to her friends and/or loved ones.  (We feel certain it was a "she" because of the other contents in the suitcase.)  There was even a Russian Phrases For Dummies book in the bag.

Lynda popping out of a suitcase.

Some Other-Worldly Treasures Found at Unclaimed Baggage Center

Old French newspaper in a display case.
1934 French Newspaper found at UBC in 1998
Chest piece on display.

Found Treasures Museum

New in 2023 is the Found Treasures Museum which showcases several of the unique items that were discovered at Unclaimed Baggage. Among the treasures are shrunken heads, a miniature Egyptian sarcophagus, a Hoggle figure, a Russian gas mask, a Dogon bronze horseman figure, a Moroccan Koummya, a replica of a Chinese Terracotta Army Soldier, and a Lladro Samurai porcelain sculpture.

The Found Treasures Museum at Unclaimed Baggage Center.
An Egyptian sarcophagus.
Egyptian sarcophagus
A stuff rattlesnake on display.
Not the live snake that was found in a duffle back.
Hoggle statute on display.
Hoggle

The museum is inside the store and there is no charge to enter.

Safeguarding Your Personal Items

When possible, travel lightly and pack everything in a carry-on item. Put a business card or index card in your luggage with your name, address, and telephone number so that if your luggage does get lost, the airline will know who it belongs to. Place an Apple airtag in your suitcase, purse, carry-on, etc. to help track your items.

Unclaimed Baggage Center Location

Unclaimed Baggage sign.

509 West Willow Street, Scottsboro, Alabama  35768

Hours of Operation at the Unclaimed Baggage Center

  • Monday - Friday 9:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
  • Saturdays 8:00 a.m. - 7:00 p.m.
  • Closed on Sundays
Sign that says, "Cups Espresso - Cafe."

Does shopping make you hungry as it does me?  There is an onsite cafe, Cups Cafe, which serves lunch Monday - Friday from 10:00 - 3:00, and on Saturday 10:00 - 4:00.

Chicken wrap and chicken salad with pickle.

Can't make it to the Unclaimed Baggage Center?

No worries.  The Unclaimed Baggage Center now offers you the opportunity to shop from home!  That's right - you can shop from their Weird and Wonderful Finds, Apparel, Accessories, Electronics, and so much more.  What's cool is that you can see how much money you are saving over the estimated retail price.

You can connect with Unclaimed Baggage Center - Website | Twitter


Have you ever lost your luggage or do you have tips on how to ensure that your bags get back to you?

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  1. Sharyn says

    March 17, 2022 at 1:17 am

    Wow, I never knew this existed. I'm so glad I can shop online - going to look right now!

    Reply
  2. Olivia says

    March 17, 2022 at 2:33 am

    Wait, that's crazy - I had no idea this place existed! Definitely sounds like a unique experience.

    Reply
  3. Elyse says

    March 17, 2022 at 6:35 am

    This is crazy, I had no idea!! Does most of the money made from sales go to charity?

    Reply
  4. amy says

    March 17, 2022 at 4:25 pm

    This is so interesting! I’d never considered what happened to unclaimed baggage, so it’s nice to finally understand the whole thing a little better!

    Reply
  5. Cristina says

    March 20, 2022 at 11:48 pm

    This is the first time I've heard about this!! I’d never thought about what happens to unclaimed baggage.

    Reply

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