Strange Medicine
Mutter Museum
You need a strong stomach to visit the Mutter Museum in Philadelphia. It dates back to 1858, when Dr. Thomas Dent Mutter presented his collection of pathological specimens and medical instruments to the College of Physicians of Philadelphia, which still oversees the place. The medical connection prevents the museum from degenerating into a mere freak show, though exhibits such as a collection of skulls, a plaster cast of renowned Siamese twins Chang and Eng, and a cancerous growth removed from President Grover Cleveland would certainly be welcome at any traveling carnival. Art aficionados will appreciate the portraits by Thomas Eakins, William Merrit Chase, and John Singer Sargent, among others (collphyphil.org).