10 Weirdest Things Exhibited in Museums ...

A.J.

If, when thinking about weird artifacts in museums, you’re reminded of an old whale tooth, or maybe an uncommon gun from the 1700s, you might want to revise your definition of “weird”. You can't imagine what strange items are exhibited in some museums – many of which very few people would ever think about preserving! Let's check out a few of the most interesting ones.

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1. A Slice of Route 66

A Slice of Route 66 The collectors of the Smithsonian have always worked hard to document every part of American culture – this is probably why they’ve also taken a sizable chunk out of the famed Route 66 and put it on display. The item features a 50-foot long piece of concrete that used to belong to the Oklahoma section of the popular road.

2. A Book Bound in Human Skin

A Book Bound in Human Skin Undoubtedly one of the strangest things in museums, a book written about pregnancy in the 1700s took a turn for the macabre in 1880, when its owner, a physician of the time, boiled a piece of skin taken from a woman’s thigh and used it to bind the book. God, this is chilling! The item is held at the Mütter Museum in Philadelphia.

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The Mütter Museum in Philadelphia is home to a book bound in human skin. The book was written about pregnancy in the 1700s and was acquired by a physician in 1880. The physician decided to boil a piece of skin taken from a woman’s thigh and use it to bind the book. The book is one of the strangest items exhibited in museums, and is a chilling reminder of the lengths people will go to for their craft.

The Mütter Museum is home to a wide variety of strange and unusual artifacts, ranging from medical oddities to anatomical specimens. The museum is a popular destination for those interested in the history of medicine, and it has become a popular tourist attraction in Philadelphia.

The museum houses a number of other strange and unusual artifacts, including a collection of human skulls, a tumor removed from President Grover Cleveland’s jaw, and a plaster cast of the conjoined twins Chang and Eng Bunker. The museum also houses a collection of medical instruments, including a number of surgical tools used in the 1800s.

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3. Interactive Asylums

Interactive Asylums A strange place you might want to think twice before entering is the Glore Psychiatric Museum in Missouri. Here you can find real life replicas of old psychiatric wards, complete with creepy mannequins and weird tools.

4. The Head Press

The Head Press The Amsterdam Museum houses some of the most unusual instruments of torture. Among them is the head press – a type of machinery that provided a truly horrible death in medieval times by crushing a victim’s skull.

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The Head Press is a gruesome reminder of the cruel and unusual punishments used in medieval times. It was an instrument of torture that would crush a victim’s skull, providing a slow and painful death. It was often used for public execution and was considered a particularly cruel form of punishment.

The Head Press was first recorded in the 15th century and was used in many parts of Europe, including the Netherlands. It was also used in other countries, such as England and France. The Head Press was made of two large wooden boards with spikes on the inside that would press down onto the victim’s head. The victim would be placed between the two boards and the executioner would then slowly tighten the screws, causing the spikes to press down and crush the victim’s skull.

The Head Press is a reminder of the brutality of medieval times and is still exhibited in the Amsterdam Museum. It is a stark reminder of the cruelty of the punishments used in the past and serves as a warning of the dangers of unchecked power. It is a reminder of the need for justice and fairness in a society.

5. The Mechanized Monk

The Mechanized Monk The mechanized monk is another one of the weirdest things in museums you can have the chance to see. Built in the 16th century in Spain, the monk is a true marvel of engineering, being able to walk, as well as move its mouth and arms.

6. Museum of Bad Art

Museum of Bad Art If you’re tired of looking at pieces painted by famous artists that make you think your artistic skills are zero, take a look at the Museum of Bad Art. Here you can find examples of some of the most bizarre and downright ugly artistic pieces ever made.

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This quirky museum is quite literally a treasure trove of creative mishaps and eccentric expression. It's the perfect spot for a good giggle or an unconventional art education. You'll encounter pieces that range from the inexplicably strange to creations that are so inexpertly executed, they're endearing. Whether you're an art lover or just in for a chuckle, this museum is sure to redefine your concepts of beauty and talent. So lower the bar, embrace the awkwardness, and enjoy the celebration of artistic attempts gone wonderfully wrong.

7. Collections of Hair

Collections of Hair Avanos in Turkey and the Leila’s Hair Museum have some disturbingly beautiful pieces on display… made from human hair. I'm talking about wreaths, bunches, clumps and a huge collection of hair of all colors collected from 16,000 women – these may not be everyone's idea of a cultural experience, but they are definitely worth a look.

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The fascination doesn't end there. The tradition at Avanos, which involves visiting women leaving a piece of their hair, has cultivated a bizarre yet captivating visual spectacle that's both a testament to enduring customs and a surreal archive of human locks. Meanwhile, at Leila’s Hair Museum in Missouri, the intimate art of hair jewelry and mementos from the Victorian era takes center stage. These artifacts, curled and twisted into intricate designs, allow a peek into an era where such keepsakes were cherished symbols of affection and remembrance. These peculiar galleries offer a quirky strand of artistic expression that's truly hair-raising.

8. Toilets

Toilets Yes, that's right! You can actually go to a museum to see toilets – and basically everything else related to them. The Sulabh Museum in New Delhi will be proud to present you all kinds of toilets from around the world, including related paraphernalia dating back to 2500 BC!

9. Joseph Hyrtl’s Skulls

Joseph Hyrtl’s Skulls In the 1800s, anatomist Joseph Hyrtl donated 139 skulls to the Mütter Museum. The skulls are still kept for visitors to admire, and some have an intriguing background story or have belonged to people who were famous at the time.

10. The Soap Lady

The Soap Lady The final point on my list is the Soap Lady, but it's definitely not the least interesting one. It is the unique body of a young lady exhumed in Philadelphia in 1875 which is encased in an unusual, soap-like substance called adipocere.

If you’ve made it all the way to the end without cringing, congratulations are in order! Which of these items do you think is the weirdest? Would you go to see any of them in person?

Sources:
muttermuseum.org
time.com
list25.com
adventure.howstuffworks.com
mentalfloss.com

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Where Thoughts and Opinions Converge

The soap lady, I'd like to know her story. Look at the expression on her face.

A book bound in human skin can also be found in Canberra, Australia... It's so gross!!!! By the way, I love anything to do with history and seeing old jails and asylums are so interesting!

Weird

The second one is so gross!

I absolutely love anything to do with medieval torture devices!

Your articles are by far some of the most interesting to read on here, keep them coming ;)

that Amsterdam torture museum is in that hostel movie, it looks pretty cool.