The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia

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The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia Contact information, map and directions, contact form, opening hours, services, ratings, photos, videos and announcements from The Mütter Museum of The College of Physicians of Philadelphia, Museum, 19 S. 22nd Street, Philadelphia, PA.

America’s finest museum of medical history, the Mütter Museum displays its beautifully preserved collections of anatomical specimens, models, and medical instruments in a 19th-century “cabinet museum” setting.

10/08/2026

On World Sight Day, we’re focusing on this optokinetic drum from the Museum’s collections. Optometrists and pediatric ophthalmologists used this device to assess the eye health of young children and other patients who cannot speak.

When the drum is held up and spun, a reflex called optokinetic nystagmus should kick in, causing a patient’s eyes to “skip” back and forth as they track the objects. Dysfunction in the optokinetic nystagmus reflex can indicate vision problems or neurological issues.

To learn more about this collections item, search no F1993.550 using the link in our bio.

Ticketing update! 🎟 Timed tickets are no longer required on weekdays at the Mütter Museum. Book a ticket for Monday thro...
10/06/2026

Ticketing update! 🎟 Timed tickets are no longer required on weekdays at the Mütter Museum. Book a ticket for Monday through Friday and arrive any time during our normal business hours.

Saturday and Sunday tickets will remain timed, so be sure to select a time slot that matches your arrival time.

Plan your next visit: https://muttermuseum.org/visit/

Special hours reminder: Mütter Tuesdays continue through the end of October! Visit us every Tuesday this month from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. for a cider-themed happy hour, plus after-hours access to our collections, special exhibitions, and more.

was established in 1982 by the American Library Association ( ) to draw attention to the growing number of challenges ...
10/05/2026

was established in 1982 by the American Library Association ( ) to draw attention to the growing number of challenges to “obscene” books in schools, libraries, and stores.

This year’s theme is Let Books Be — Protect the Freedom to Read.

We are spotlighting books from our Historical Medical Library collections that showcase different kinds of censorship.

Today, we’re highlighting Darwin! Many people believe Charles Darwin’s On the Origin of Species... was in the “Index Librorum Prohibitorum” (the Catholic Index of Forbidden Books). It was actually Erasmus Darwin, his grandfather. “Zoonomia...” appeared on the list in 1817. This work of natural history, originally published in 1796, was banned for its take on evolution and its implication that the Bible should be read as allegory rather than literally. “Zoonomia...” remained on the Index until its official end in 1966.

Visit https://cpp.ent.sirsi.net/client/en_US/library/ and search BB 139 to find it in our Catalog.

"When interacting with a technology that hasn't changed much, one that you can recognize, you can really put yourself in...
10/04/2026

"When interacting with a technology that hasn't changed much, one that you can recognize, you can really put yourself in the place of somebody who lived in a very different context than you. It's a touchstone that can be very illustrative of the human experience."

The Mütter Museum's Collections Specialist, Lisa Geiger, recently spoke to Smithsonian Magazine about "The Humble History of the Bedpan." To learn more about what has (and hasn't) evolved about bedpans over the centuries, visit https://www.smithsonianmag.com/innovation/the-humble-history-of-the-bedpan-180989560/

Our Mortuary Science Meet & Geek was a fascinating exploration of the everlasting and universal practice of honoring the...
10/03/2026

Our Mortuary Science Meet & Geek was a fascinating exploration of the everlasting and universal practice of honoring the dead. Thanks to everyone who joined us for this sold-out event!

Our next two Meet & Geeks are coming up fast:

• 10/8: Strange Girls
Local author and journalist Kim Kelly will share fascinating details about some of the real women behind "Freak Shows" in the 19th and early 20th centuries, and explore how ideas about disability, labor, gender, race, and imperialism shaped their world.

• 11/12: Fathoming Frankenstein
Travel back to the early 1800s with Museum Educator Jo D'Avella to explore the science and medicine that influenced Mary Shelley's gothic novel, "Frankenstein," and the lasting impact of her creation.

Get your tickets today: https://muttermuseum.org/events/

We are thrilled to join the 2026 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon on Wednesday, October 7, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.! In the s...
10/02/2026

We are thrilled to join the 2026 Philadelphia Lantern Slide Salon on Wednesday, October 7, from 6 to 7:30 p.m.! In the spirit of lantern exhibition culture, this salon will bring together unique, rarely seen images presented in the context in which they were created.

Our Historical Medical Library will highlight slides from the collection of Howard Childs Carpenter, M.D., founder of the Department for the Prevention of Disease at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, which were used to educate patients about food safety, caring for family, and avoiding disease in the early 20th century.

The event will also showcase glass lantern slides from the special collections of The Academy of Natural Sciences, PHS Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, the Commercial Museum Lantern Slide Collection, and the Wagner Free Institute of Science!

This event is part of Archives Month Philly, an annual celebration inviting everyone to celebrate archives, the work of archivists, and Philadelphia's rich history at events across the city in October.

Admission is free to everyone. Registration is recommended but not required. Learn more and register: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-philadelphia-lantern-slide-salon-tickets-1998914027666?aff=email

"The category is: Dance or Die!"🪩October is here, and Choreomania is on everyone's mind! This bizarre medical phenomenon...
10/01/2026

"The category is: Dance or Die!"🪩

October is here, and Choreomania is on everyone's mind!

This bizarre medical phenomenon, which inspired the theme of our special event, was recently featured on Jeopardy!

Dance until you drop with us on Friday, October 30, at the Mütter Museum! This year's "diagnosis" (theme) is choleric, one of the four temperaments, which embraces fire, passion, and physical activity.

Guests can expect an even bigger, bolder, more transportive event this year, kicking off at 6 p.m. with a garden party in the Benjamin Rush Medicinal Plant Garden. The full immersive experience begins at 7 p.m., when visitors enter a medieval village that transports them to the 16th century for an energetic, unusual, and theatrical experience.

Tickets are selling FAST! Get yours now: https://muttermuseum.org/events/choreomania-2026/

📸: Jeopardy!

At our Historical Medical Library Fall Open House, hosted in partnership with Archives Month Philly, we're bringing coll...
09/30/2026

At our Historical Medical Library Fall Open House, hosted in partnership with Archives Month Philly, we're bringing collection items "Out of the Archives!"

On Thursday, October 15, meet our Archivist and Librarians, see a showcase of archival materials hand-picked by staff, and learn more about our work. We went deep into the archives to find fascinating materials from the history of medicine for you to learn about, explore, and even "adopt!"

By "adopting" a unique piece of medical history in our Library and archival collections or making an individual donation, you can support the Historical Medical Library and our Library Preservation Fund, which helps us steward our world-class Library and archival collection of the history of medicine.

Register for this free event using the link in our bio.

Discover the history of the "freak show," explore the science and medicine that influenced "Frankenstein," and dance unt...
09/29/2026

Discover the history of the "freak show," explore the science and medicine that influenced "Frankenstein," and dance until you drop!

Don't miss our spooky season lineup:
• 9/29 – 10/27 : Mütter Tüesdays
• 10/8: Meet & Geek: Strange Girls
• 10/13: Bringing Portraits to Life
• 10/15: Out of the Archives: Historical Medical Library Open House📚
• 10/19: Ethics on the Table: An Interactive Experience
• 10/21: American Sign Language Tour (sold out!)
• 10/30: Choreomania🪩
• 11/12: Meet & Geek: Fathoming Frankenstein

Sign up for all these and more today: https://muttermuseum.org/events/

Collections Item Spotlight: During Pain Awareness Month, we are highlighting Miles Anti-Pain Pills from the late 19th an...
09/28/2026

Collections Item Spotlight: During Pain Awareness Month, we are highlighting Miles Anti-Pain Pills from the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Produced by the Dr. Miles Medical Company, these pills were marketed "for the relief of simple headache and neuralgia, pain caused by tooth extraction, functional menstrual pains."

Pain Awareness Month is observed every September to increase the understanding of chronic pain, pain management, and support those living with pain.

Learn more about this item through our Collections Catalogue (search no.
MISC-1823.309): https://tcpp-emuweb.axiellhosting.com/museum/

Address

19 S. 22nd Street
Philadelphia, PA
19103

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

+12155633737

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