Review: The Mütter Museum of the College of Physicians of Philadelphia

What's this place about?
The College of Physicians was founded in 1787 as a medical professional organization and a place to further the ideals of the medical profession. The College comprises two main parts: a medical library that recently opened to the public on the weekends (it's worth going upstairs to see) and the Mütter Museum, dedicated to medical history. It is named in honor of Dr. Thomas Dent Mütter, a fellow of the College, who bequeathed his collection of medical tools and specimens that form the core of the collection.

What can you find here?
Skulls. A piece of Einstein's brain. A model of conjoined twins. Even a dessicated colon. These are all part of the collection on display. Human health isn't always pretty (note the wet specimens of tumors) but it's all here for the viewing. It's almost always fascinating and often disgusting, and you'll hear plenty of "yucks" from other museum-goers who are transfixed by the cases.

Do they hold any special exhibits?
One of the most interesting aspects of this museum is how it illustrates how far we've come in the practice of medicine, along with how some things remain the same (vaccine uncertainty, pandemics). The permanent collection is why most people come, but temporary exhibits provide a link between the past and present ("Spit Spreads Death" focuses on the Spanish flu).

What's the crowd like?
Maybe it's the memento mori theme or the horrifying contents of some of the wet specimens, but The Mütter is listed as one of the top places to bring a date. You'll see plenty of couples, along with families and tourists.

On the practical side, how were the facilities?
The museum is tucked into a corner of the College building and set over two floors. It's a historic setting with narrow spaces in parts, and the space can get crowded.

Gift shop: obligatory, inspiring—or skip it?
It's a fun stop, especially for your dark humor-loving friends.

What if we are time- or attention-challenged?
This is the kind of place where you can breeze through rather quickly and get a good sense of the collection or spend more time imagining what it must have been like to be operated on during the Civil War (hint: don't think about it). If you're here on the weekend, don't skip a trip upstairs to the College's Medical Library. Only recently opened to the public, their display includes rare and valuable books and printed material that will spark your curiosity.