If the idea of a human skull collection makes your stomach churn or if you get squeamish at the thought of an object being extracted from a human throat, steer clear of the historical Mutter Museum.
A few of the current and upcoming installations and exhibits include shrunken heads from South America, an Ossuary (bone receptacle) inspired by European catacombs, Civil War surgeon kits, various wet specimens floating in jars, and a gallery dedicated to “Infectious Diseases.”
The museum, originally established by the College of Physicians of Philadelphia to educate medical students during the mid-1800s about human anatomy, currently possesses a collection of over 20,000 items. Found here is everything from the tallest skeleton in North America to a plaster molding of Siamese twins’ conjoined livers. The museum also has its own Medicinal Plant Garden established in 1937 that contains over fifty types of herbs, as well as benches to simply relax on and take in the ambience. This leafy abyss, separated from the rest of Center City by a simple wrought-iron gate, provides some fresh air for those feeling a bit woozy or overwhelmed by the oddities on display inside. The museum also serves as a venue for a variety of seminars, events, and programs in the medical field that are often free to the general public. Teachers, students, and those with a general interest in the grotesque but real medical abnormalities will find this museum to be extremely captivating… but perhaps slightly repulsive.
Attraction Information
- Hours:
- Monday through Friday: 9am to 5pm
- Admission:
- General Admission (Ages 18-64): $14
- Children (Ages 6-17), Senior Citizens (Age 65+), Students with valid ID: $10
- Fellows of the College/Children under 6: Free
- Contact:
- Location: 19 S 22nd St Philadelphia, PA
- Phone: 215-563-3737 x211
- Website: www.collphyphil.org
