Mutter Museum

Mütter Museum

Type	Medical history museum
Address	19 S 22nd Street
Map	View on Google Maps
Neighborhood	Center City
Phone	(215) 563-3737
Website	Official site
Established	1858
Founder	Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter
Collection	37,000+ specimens
Visitors	160,000/year
Admission	Check website for current pricing
Hours	Daily 10am-5pm

The Mütter Museum is a medical history museum at 19 S 22nd Street in Center City, part of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Famous for its collection of anatomical specimens, medical oddities, and antique instruments, the museum attracts over 160,000 visitors annually with exhibits including Albert Einstein's brain tissue, the "Soap Lady," and the tallest skeleton in North America.

History

The museum was founded on December 11, 1858, when Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter donated his personal collection of medical specimens and $30,000 (approximately $800,000 today) to The College of Physicians of Philadelphia. Dr. Mütter was a pioneering plastic surgeon who used his collection to teach students about anatomical variations and pathologies.

Originally intended exclusively for medical professionals and invited guests, the museum did not open to the general public until the mid-1970s. Since then, it has become one of Philadelphia's most popular and unusual attractions.

Collection

The Mütter Museum holds over 37,000 specimens, with approximately 10% on display at any time.

Famous Specimens

Albert Einstein's Brain — Slides of brain tissue from the physicist, acquired from the pathologist who performed Einstein's autopsy
The Soap Lady — Body of a woman exhumed in Philadelphia in 1875, whose remains transformed into a soap-like substance called adipocere
Chang and Eng Bunker — Death cast and connected livers of the original "Siamese Twins," whose autopsy was performed at the College of Physicians
The American Giant — Skeleton of the tallest known person to have lived in North America (7'6")
Harry Eastlack's Skeleton — The fused bones of a man who suffered from fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP), an extremely rare condition where soft tissue turns to bone

Notable Collections

Chevalier Jackson Collection — 2,000 objects removed from human throats and airways, collected by the legendary laryngologist Chevalier Jackson, displayed in elegant wooden drawers
Skull Collection — 139 human skulls collected in the 19th century, originally used for phrenological studies
Marie Curie's Electrometer — Scientific instrument used by the pioneering physicist
Dr. Benjamin Rush's Medicine Chest — Belonging to the "Father of American Psychiatry" and signer of the Declaration of Independence

Medical Instruments

The museum displays antique medical equipment illustrating the evolution of medicine, from early surgical tools to 19th-century prosthetics.

Visiting

Detail	Information
Hours	Daily 10am-5pm
Admission	Ticketed; check website for current pricing
Address	19 S 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
Photography	Prohibited
Age Policy	Minors must be accompanied by an adult
Accessibility	Wheelchair accessible

The museum recommends visitors be prepared for graphic anatomical displays. While educational and respectfully presented, the collection includes human remains and may not be suitable for all visitors.

The College of Physicians

The Mütter Museum is part of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, founded in 1787 as the oldest private medical society in the United States. The College continues its educational mission through the museum, a historical medical library, and public programs on health and medical history.

Getting There

View on Google Maps

19 S 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103

The Mütter Museum is located near Rittenhouse Square:

Walking — At 22nd and Ludlow Streets, two blocks west of Rittenhouse Square
SEPTA Subway — Walnut-Locust Station (Broad Street Line)
SEPTA Bus — Routes 9, 12, 17, 21, 42
Parking — Street parking and nearby garages

In Popular Culture

The Mütter Museum has been featured in numerous documentaries, television shows, and travel programs as one of America's most unusual museums. It regularly appears on lists of "must-see" Philadelphia attractions and "weirdest museums in America."

References

External Links