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Comments · 10

  1. Medical oddities by demonlapin · · Score: 1 · on Ask Slashdot: Science Sights To See?

    The Mütter Museum of medical oddities in Philadelphia is one that has been on my list for a long time. Haven't made it yet, but how can you not want to see the place that exhibits Einstein's brain?

  2. Re:AMNH & Mutter by wmelnick · · Score: 1 · on Science, Technology, Natural History Museums?

    My two favorites are the American Museum of Natural History in NYC and the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia.

    The AMNH is enormous; you could easily spend an entire day there, and you'd be hard-pressed to see everything in detail. It has the best dinosaur and primate sections I've ever seen.

    The Mutter is just plain cool: a museum devoted to medical oddities, like the skeleton(s) of Cheng & Eng, the 'Siamese twins'. As a PhD-wielding developmental biologist and geneticist I was happy to see some medical information on the various diseases or developmental problems that are on display. Sadly, you cannot take photos; they prefer you purchase their (expensive) photo book.

    Don't forget the planetarium attached to the AMNH and the Queens Hall of Science (think Men In Black spaceships). There are dozens more all over the city. If you like locks there is an entire museum just dedicated to Locks in midtown. Try this for a listing of the museums we have in town: http://officialsite.com/index.asp?regionid=30&categoryid=12 W

  3. AMNH & Mutter by drunken_boxer777 · · Score: 1 · on Science, Technology, Natural History Museums?

    My two favorites are the American Museum of Natural History in NYC and the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia.

    The AMNH is enormous; you could easily spend an entire day there, and you'd be hard-pressed to see everything in detail. It has the best dinosaur and primate sections I've ever seen.

    The Mutter is just plain cool: a museum devoted to medical oddities, like the skeleton(s) of Cheng & Eng, the 'Siamese twins'. As a PhD-wielding developmental biologist and geneticist I was happy to see some medical information on the various diseases or developmental problems that are on display. Sadly, you cannot take photos; they prefer you purchase their (expensive) photo book.

  4. Start off or end up at the mutter museum by my_left_nut · · Score: 1 · on Science, Technology, Natural History Museums?

    The Mutter Museum is right in downtown Philly, you should check it out before you leave or when you get back.

    It's chock full of medical curiosities. I think it is affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania. A must see.

  5. Re:Philadelphia by maggotbrain_777 · · Score: 1 · on A Geek's Tour Of North America?
    Well, the Franklin Institute may be nice. However, I would recommend the Mutter Museum The Mutter Museum. Apparently, they might still give tours from Monday thru Friday. A brief decription is necessary:
    The Museum's collections include over 20,000 objects, including fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens, medical instruments, anatomical and pathological models, items of memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians, and medical illustrations.

    Definitely a must see for the geek with the macabre bent. As an art student, I would venture down there on luch breaks, and marvel at the varnished display of the entire development cycle of the chicken from foetus to develpoed chick as well as the beautiful wax casts of "mutants" with what appeared to be tree stumps growing out of their forehead. Joel-Peter Witken and Trent Reznor, eat your heart out, you ain't got nothing on the Mutter Museum!
    Also, there is the Barnes Foundation Barnes Foundation, which has THE best collection of Impressionist/Post_impressionist painting this side of the pond. Up until 1990, or so, this collection was never seen outside of the museum. No photgraphs, no postcards. You had to go to the actual building to see literally dozens of Monet, Manet, Soutine, Cezanne, etc hanging within inches of each other on walss 50 feet long and 15 feet high. Truly awe inspiring. And, finally, there is the Masonic Temple Masonic Temple, which has a whole lot of random architecural styles packed into a fully overblown space. But, remember, on the tour, don't ask what they actually "do" in those spaces. I actually got escorted off of a public tour for asking the tour guide too many "distracting questions(n.b. This was 1987 and I had just finished reading R.A.W's Illuminati Trilogy. go figure:-)
    Oh, and The Rodin Museum, One of the larget collections of Duchamp, the largest ratio of abandoned building to local populus, some of the best cheeseteaks, and really boring historical tours and The Mummer's who are a basically a bunch of dunkin Philly rednecks. Go figure.
  6. Philly by pjdepasq · · Score: 1 · on A Geek's Tour Of North America?
    If you happen to get to Philly, be sure to see the usual things: Liberty Bell, Independence Hall, and get a good cheesesteak.

    But if you want to see something REALLY ONE OF A KIND: get your ass to the The Mütter Museum. It's a trip if you can stomach it. It's not for everyone, but it is certainly unique.

  7. Mutter Museam? by GiMP · · Score: 1 · on A Geek's Tour Of North America?

    In Philadelphia, PA; there are some other great sites in Philadelphia, but this one is a bit more unusual.

    The Museum's collections include over 20,000 objects, including fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens, medical instruments, anatomical and pathological models, items of memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians, and medical illustrations.

    I haven't been there yet, but it appears to be really neat.

  8. Mutter Museum by Zipster · · Score: 1 · on Seeking Interesting Sites When Travelling the World?

    For those interested in the macarbe side of medicine try the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia.

    I went there during my visit to the states and it is quite interesting with exhibits from the College of Surgeons at the turn of the 19th Century.
    Some highlights include a collection of skulls used for phrenology (sp?) and one doctors collection of things people swallowed (including live ammunition!).

  9. The Mutter Museum by FosterSJC · · Score: 1 · on Seeking Interesting Sites When Travelling the World?

    All I can say is the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia. From the site:

    "The Museum's collections include over 20,000 objects, including approximately 900 fluid-preserved anatomical and pathological specimens; 10,000+ medical instruments and apparati, primarily dating between 1750 and the present; ca. 400 anatomical and pathological models in plaster, wax, papier mache, and plastic; ca. 200 items of memorabilia of famous scientists and physicians; and ca. 1500 medical illustrations in the form of lantern slides, 35 mm. slides, photographs, drawings, and prints. The Museum continues to receive medical instruments and specimens donated by Fellows, other physicians, and individuals."

    In other words, this place has all sorts of interesting medical oddities, including the lady who turned to soap, siamese twin skeletons, preserved children born with horns, etc. Don't mod me down for bad taste, the museum exists to further medical and rational knowledge of the strange and misunderstood.

  10. BUTCHER PEOPLE NOT HOGS by Medievalist · · Score: 1 · on Dolly meet Dotty: Pig Cloning

    As some religious headcase said in an earlier post, I know I'll be flamed for this but Truth must be proclaimed.

    HUMANS ARE ANIMALS. They are not vegetables or minerals. Humans gain their distinction from other forms of animal life by having (relatively) high intelligence, opposable thumbs, and language. If we are going to raise animals for spare parts, we should raise humans. For the medical implications of cross-species transplantation, particularly as it pertains to mutation of virii, see the CRT site. For the ethical implications think about the fact that a human baby is demonstrably less intelligent than an adult pig. For the moral implications think about human history.
    Once upon a time Victorian naturalists hunted pygmies to be stuffed and displayed in museums (similar displays can still be found at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia - note the Mütter is not responsible for any atrocities). There was a time when dolphins were considered expendable in the name of cheap tinned tuna. There was a time when people with epicanthic folds were not considered human by "educated" Europeans - note that some of these "scientists" (such as the man who popularized the term Mongoloid for humans with Down's Syndrome) had never met an Asian person.
    Today we think of the racists and specists of the past as ignorant savages. Because we (most of us, that is) have met people of other colors, of other ethnic backgrounds, etc. and know them to be like us, we abhor historical cruelties and hypocrisy.
    Have you ever met an educated, language-using primate? Oh, I forgot, rumor has it most of them were slaughtered for medical research when the grants ran out. There still may be one or two around though. Did you know that pigs are smarter than most primates?
    --Charlie