Wednesday, June 04, 2008

Anne's Holy Grail: The Mutter Museum

On Sunday I can die. Because on Saturday, I'm finally seeing my version of the Holy Grail in the historic American city of Philadelphia, home of the Liberty Bell, the cheesesteak, the Eagles/Flyers/76ers/Phillies, the Yellow Fever Epidemic of 1793, and other stuff. But most importantly, Philly is the home of the The College of Physicians of Philadelphia's Mutter Museum.

The Mutter Museum's Treasures include:



  • The plaster cast of the torso of world-famous Siamese Twins, Chang & Eng, and their conjoined livers


  • Joseph Hyrtl's collection of skulls


  • Preserved body of the "Soap Lady"


  • Collection of 2,000 objects extracted from people's throats


  • Cancerous growth removed from President Grover Cleveland


  • Tallest skeleton on display in North America

To read more about the museum's history, click here.


Did someone say conjoined livers?

6 comments:

newbluebaby said...

Don't forget the world's largest colon.

anne altman said...

first stop.

finally had to just get up and go without you, newblue.

Moderator said...

Any Milton Berle specimens?

Del-V said...

In DC there is a little known "medical oddities" museum at Walter Reed hospital. It has about 100 jars filled with pickled fetuses, the world's largest hairball removed from someone's stomach and crap like that. My grandparents took us there when I was a kid and it gave me nightmares for years.

Philly is a fun town. Enjoy!

Rebecca said...

In Oxford there is an anthropological museum with shrunken heads, voodoo dolls, and other ceremonial "witchcraft" objects. It's amazing!

Have fun in Philly, Anne!

piglet said...

Report back immediately upon your return.

We'll be waiting.