The Mütter Museum

Loved The Mütter! Be aware though if you have a weak stomach, this might not be an activity for you. I've always been interested in Anatomy and this museum has so many interesting things to see and learn from. It is very respectful of the people who are on display and very educational.

A small museum with a collection of preserved human remains. The main/permanent exhibit was 3 large rooms, about 1-2 hours. It's about medical history, not modern medicine.

It was crowded during the first hour the museum was open, and less so after that. Most people didn't stay more than an hour I think.

There was a special exhibit about homelessness.

It's strange that they ban photography. They say that it's to protect the privacy of the people whose remains are displayed here. But somehow, letting anyone walk in and see them is OK, hmm?

This medical museum gets into the guts of life, sickness, and mortality-- literally. You'll find samples of human remains that illustrate injuries, diseases, tumors, birth defects, and all manner of displays that will have you pondering your existence. Any lover of medicine or biology must visit this museum.

Interesting collection of abnormal human tissues and bones. We visited the Mütter Museum on a Saturday afternoon in July, and it was packed. Buying tickets ahead of time is definitely a must. We spent about 1 hour and 15 minutes examining the collection. The main collection is housed in three rooms and is jammed tightly together. There are plenty of informative plaques, but, when it is crowded, then you'll have to wait to examine pieces of interest. What I thought would be the highlight of the collection was the brain of Albert Einstein, but they only had a few slides of what was purportedly his brain. Overall, I do not think this is a must-see museum, but, if you live in Philly, then I think it is worthwhile to visit the Mütter Museum at some point.

This place is not for the faint of heart. For the medically curious, it may be great. Having been there, I may not sleep well for a while.

3.5 rounding up.

Mütter Museum is a unique stop in Philadelphia. It is a medical museum that features history, lots of information, and tons of visuals/specimens. This is affiliated with the College of Physicians of Philadelphia and there really are some great exhibits here. Keep in mind some people may find some of the specimens to be a little graphic and this isn't really a place I'd bring a young child, mostly because I don't know that they'd enjoy. However, you can get through the museum pretty thoroughly in an hour or less.

The staff here was kind and friendly, they did offer masks (September 2023) for those interested but it was not required. This is a great stop for anyone who is interested in history, medicine or diagnosis/treatment of disease. There is a no photo policy, and though I see many reviews saying it is strictly enforced, there are tons of photos posted here lol.

My main reason for the lower rating is how HOT it was in this museum!!! It was easily 90 degrees outside, and I would think that preserved specimens would be stored at a cooler temperature but it is TOASTY in here. I honestly felt like I needed to rush to be done because it was so hot. With AC, this would've been 5 stars but it was to the point I was kind of miserable and just wanted to be done because of the temperature.

It would be nice to be able to take photos sans flash, but I imagine it probably has to do with the preservation of the exhibits. There are some really interesting things here, including a section about pandemics. The skull wall was probably my favorite, it was really interesting. One thing also worth mentioning is they have a GREAT gift shop. Probably the most impressive museum gift shop I've been to.

Amazing, amazing experience. There is street parking and a close by parking lot. I would recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time but you can also purchase while there. The layout of the museum is not conducive to many people at once because the aisles are narrow but there is sooooo much to see. Take your time to read, observe and explore.

Attending the museum was my teen daughters idea and I am so glad we made it a family trip. It is definitely a museum for the curious and not easily "grossed out". It appears the exhibits change so there's possibility to go various times and see different things.

I recommend and will be attending again.

My fiancé and I loved our trip here back in June 2023. It was extremely educational and we loved learning more about the history of medicine.
I am very disappointed though in how the library executive director has made the online contents of the museum inaccessible to those who are unable to visit the museum. I would love the opportunity to learn more about what I saw, but all human specimens have been removed from their website.

Took my biology major parents to the Mutter for their weekend visit to Philly! The museum itself is located inside of the larger College Of Physicians Of Philadelphia and spans about two floors, in addition to the art exhibition on the other side of the first floor. Overall if you take your time, I wouldn't expect to spend more than about an hour in this museum, especially since much of it is not for the faint of heart.

I think there is some updating that could be done in re: the presentation of information and general setup. I found it hard to follow much of a greater through thread and it made the museum read more like "pieces of a whole body" than body of work, no pun intended. Super interesting to think about from a curatorial perspective and still feel super grateful that much of this was preserved and is now open to the public so we all may learn - maladies and all.

My favorite section of the museum was the SKULLS as it leaves lots of time to look upon each piece of bone and remind yourself that life is fleeting and we're all super unique, but also we're all exactly the same...and we're all going to die. We love a mortality moment! I truly hope to never return here, as gangrene on a foot is something I can only stomach (never?) once. Enjoy (?) your visit!

This is a truly fascinating museum, particularly for those in the health care field. However, I do feel like this is a bit of medical voyeurism, as you are basically looking at the remains of persons who suffered from some unusual and certainly painful conditions, both physically and emotionally.

Nevertheless, there is a wealth of information here. The collection is thoughtfully curated and makes you understand that the specimens here came from people and the impact their ailments had on their lives. Some of the displays may be upsetting to see, so consider carefully whether you want to visit.

No photos of the collection are permitted, out of respect for those whose remains are displayed. There is a courtyard with medicinal plants growing, which is equally fascinating. The staff is courteous and helpful.