Not for the Squeamish, but not to be missed!
Written: Apr 30 '06 (Updated Jun 19 '06)
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Pros: Worth every penny. Incredibly educational. Don't pass up seeing this exhibit!
Cons: Specimens of fetuses may offend some.
The Bottom Line: This is one of the most fascinating, educational, and wonderful museum exhibits I've ever seen. It's tasteful and a great learning experience.
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| krus54's Full Review: Bodies-The Exhibition |
Please see the update at the end!
The body is an amazing creation! Most of us likely don’t have any clue how complex the body REALLY is and how all the systems work together. Have you wondered exactly what the inside of a real human body looks like? What nerves look like? What that bone that you broke a while back looks like? Ever tear a ligament and wondered what a ligament is and exactly where it’s located? What does your ear drum or your vocal chords look like? Some of you might be in complete denial about what your lungs look like after smoking? Wanna take a peek? Interested? Hmmmm?????? No? Well, you should read through this review in its entirety anyway!
For those of you that have any interest in museums, the human body, or science, and for one of the most incredible educational experiences you’ll ever have, you MUST (I command you to!!) head over to Bodies-The Exhibition. It is located on Fulton Street at the South Street Seaport in Manhattan. (I believe there are also exhibits in Tampa, Atlanta and London). I have been told that these exhibits are not permanent so you should hurry to see it if at all possible.
This museum is a journey into the human body. Now understand these are real bodies that have been preserved. Each room highlights a different system of the body: The muscular system, circulatory system, skeletal, reproductive and nervous systems as well as all the organs. There are over 20 complete bodies and over 260 different body organs, limbs and other body parts; some of the bodies are standing in poses holding a football, baseball, discus, and a basketball. Each shows how all the systems all operate together to help balance and move to complete a task. There are slices of a brain that has had a stroke so you can see what happens to the brain when a vessel breaks.
I strongly suggest you check out the web site (http://www.bodiestheexhibition.com/bodies.html) so you can get an idea what this looks like. The photos on the site are actually of the real bodies.
While walking around the room displaying the circulatory system there is a case in which the entire circulatory system has been removed from the body. They have injected the blood vessels with a red substance so the visitors can see just how massive it is. In another room there is a case, which shows the spinal column and all the nerves that radiate out. There are explanations of everything so you know what you’re looking at.
Some of the display cases also show diseased organs next to healthy ones. It is beyond me to understand how anyone, after seeing what a REAL smoker’s lung looks like, can walk out of that exhibit and light up a cigarette.
Warning! Warning Will Robinson!!!
One room may be particularly disturbing. There is a sign outside the room warning people that they can leave the exhibit without entering the next room. That is because the room is devoted to the reproductive system and specifically there are specimens of real fetuses in many stages of development (up to, I believe, about 26 weeks) and one still inside a body. This could prove to be extremely disturbing to some.
When you buy tickets you can also spend an extra $5.00 for an audio tour. Many of the display cases have a number that can be keyed into the audio unit. The audio gives further information about what you’re viewing. There is also a button that you can push so the audio portion is talking to a child rather than an adult.
I cannot possibly write a detailed enough review about everything in this exhibition without it being so long you'll lose interest (and hopefully you're STILL reading!). I have to say that you will never see anything like this and it was worth every single penny I paid for the ticket. This is a terrific exhibit for students and just about anyone who wants to see just how wonderful, yet, complex the body is.
Questions!
Where do these bodies come from?
Well, first of all, anyone that has previously rated any of my reviews “helpful” or lower may be recognized among the specimens. Actually, this exhibit is from China. There has been a fair amount of controversy over this. The organizers have said these bodies are from the Dalian Medical School in Northern China and are indigent or bodies that were unclaimed for (I believe) at least two years but some people or groups feel these bodies were obtained under unethical means. You can research this on the Web if you’re interested.
How are they preserved?
This is the description from the web site: “A human specimen is first preserved according to standard mortuary science. The specimen is then dissected to show whatever it is that someone wants to display. Once dissected, the specimen is immersed in acetone, which eliminates all body water. The specimen is then placed in a large bath of silicone, or polymer, and sealed in a vacuum chamber. Under vacuum, acetone leaves the body in the form of gas and the polymer replaces it, entering each cell and body tissue. A catalyst is then applied to the specimen, hardening it and completing the process.”
How much are tickets?
Adults: $24.50
Senior: (over 60) $20.50
Child (12 and under) $18.50
If you buy tickets on-line there is a $2.50 service fee per ticket is added and if you order by phone (1-800-9BODIES) then $3.50 per ticket is added.
What are the hours?
Monday - Thursday : 10 am - 7 pm
Friday - Sunday : 10 am - 10 pm
Last admission time is 1 hour before closing.
How long will it take to go through the exhibit?
We were there for a good 2-1/2 hours, maybe more. We were pretty tired after getting out, but then we had also been doing a fair amount of walking around before the exhibit and had also stood on line for almost an hour before even getting in the door.
Can I take pictures of the exhibits?
Sorry, no pictures can be taken of the exhibition. There are signs all around warning against this. In fact my nephew tried taking some pictures and now he’s now part of the exhibit (an additional room that displays specimens of visitors who broke the exhibit rules). Actually, a security guard caught and instructed him to delete the pictures from his camera's memory stick but I’m not sure what would have happened if he had a 35mm roll of film in a standard film camera. I guess if they wanted to they could have escorted him out of the building. The gift shop has a book that I bought that has pictures of almost everything from the exhibit and I guarantee that most of you can’t take photos as good as the ones in this book. I thought it was worth the additional $20. I really wanted a good memento of the exhibit and it's nearly impossible to explain this place without showing people the book of photos and the detailed explanations with the photos.
If you want to go and buy the tickets at the Exhibition you should call to ensure they have tickets left for that day. We waited on line for 45 minutes to buy the tickets but they had plenty on the day we went.
I cannot emphasize how incredible and educational this was. This was perhaps the first time I actually saw my 12-year-old son stop and read almost every bit of information at each display. He usually just looks at something in a museum and walks on without reading about what he’s viewing. It’s been two weeks since we were there and he is STILL talking about this and quoting facts he read such as how fast nerve impulses travel and how many miles of blood vessels there are in the body. Now, when he sees someone smoking he says, “Daddy, don’t you think HE should see that exhibit?!?”
Thanks Di for adding this to the DB so quickly!
Update 6-20-06
I mentioned in the review that there were other locations for this exhibit. One was in Tampa. BeastieGirl just wrote an review of that location's exhibit as well. I suggest you check it out: MOSI- The BODIES Exhibit>
Recommended:
Yes
Best Suited For: Families
Best Time to Travel Here: Anytime
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krus54
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Member: Dave Schwartz
Location: Henrico, VA
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