15 Odd Items Found in Museum Collections

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15 Odd Items Found in Museum Collections

When you think of museums, you probably imagine ancient artifacts, classic paintings, or historical relics. However, some museums go beyond the expected and collect items that are downright strange. From mummified body parts to cursed dolls, here are 15 odd items found in museum collections around the world that will make you question reality.

1. The Mummified Heart of a French King – Musée de l'École Vétérinaire, France

This museum in France houses the heart of King Louis XVII, who died as a child during the French Revolution. The heart was preserved in alcohol and passed down through generations before being placed in a museum. Odd and a little morbid, but historically significant. DNA testing later confirmed the heart belonged to the boy king, adding a fascinating twist to the tale of the lost prince of France.

2. The Pickled Penises – Icelandic Phallological Museum, Iceland

Dedicated entirely to penises, this museum contains over 200 preserved specimens from various species, including whales, seals, and even humans. The founder began collecting these in the 1970s, and now the museum includes the genitalia of mythical creatures such as elves and trolls. It's both scientific and a touch surreal—a true example of Iceland's quirky spirit.

3. The Cursed Chair of Death – Thirsk Museum, England

This wooden chair is said to be cursed—those who sit on it reportedly die shortly after. Hung on the wall to prevent anyone from using it, the “Busby Stoop Chair” remains a chilling artifact of superstition. Legend says the chair belonged to Thomas Busby, a convicted murderer, who cursed it before his execution in 1702. Whether real or not, the museum takes no chances.

4. Napoleon’s Toothbrush – Wellcome Collection, UK

This museum features medical oddities, but one of the most unusual items is Napoleon Bonaparte’s toothbrush. Made of silver and bristle, it provides an intimate look into the hygiene of a historical icon. Alongside it are other personal grooming items of famous figures, revealing how even the powerful attended to everyday needs.

5. The Meguro Parasitological Museum – Tokyo, Japan

This museum focuses solely on parasites. Its most famous exhibit? A 29-foot-long tapeworm removed from a human body. The museum even sells parasite-themed merchandise like keychains and T-shirts. It's not for the squeamish, but for the curious, it's a rare insight into the hidden world of parasites that live among—and inside—us.

6. Albert Einstein’s Brain – Mütter Museum, USA

After his death in 1955, Einstein's brain was removed without permission and later sectioned into pieces. Some of these pieces now reside at the Mütter Museum, offering insight into the anatomy of genius. Researchers hoped to uncover physical reasons behind his intelligence, but findings remain inconclusive. Still, visitors are captivated by the idea of peering into the brain of a genius.

7. The Soap Lady – Mütter Museum, USA

Also in the Mütter Museum is the Soap Lady, a woman whose body turned into a soap-like substance called adipocere after burial. Her preserved body has been on display since the 19th century. Initially believed to be much older, modern tests dated her to the 19th century. Her eerie, waxy appearance makes her one of the museum's most haunting figures.

8. A Giant Hairball – National Museum of Health and Medicine, USA

This museum houses a hairball weighing over 4 pounds, removed from the stomach of a 12-year-old girl. Known as a trichobezoar, it's a disturbing reminder of rare medical conditions. These hairballs form when individuals consume hair over time—a condition known as trichophagia. The exhibit raises awareness of unusual psychiatric and medical phenomena.

9. The World's Oldest Chewing Gum – Finnish National Museum, Finland

This piece of 5,000-year-old chewing gum, made from birch bark tar, was discovered with human teeth marks still visible. It's a strange but fascinating link to prehistoric habits. Scientists have even extracted ancient DNA from it, providing clues about the diets and genetics of early humans in Scandinavia.

10. Shrunken Heads – Pitt Rivers Museum, UK

Collected during colonial expeditions, these human shrunken heads, known as tsantsas, were once used in rituals by tribes in the Amazon. The museum now displays them as a cultural and historical curiosity. However, the display has also prompted ethical debates regarding the preservation and presentation of human remains.

11. The Hair of Celebrities – Leila's Hair Museum, USA

This Missouri-based museum displays hair from historical figures like Elvis Presley and Abraham Lincoln, woven into jewelry or framed in ornate displays. It’s both artistic and eccentric. Hair art was a popular Victorian practice, often used to remember loved ones. The museum also features locks from thousands of unknown individuals in intricate forms.

12. A Slice of Human Skin Tattooed with a Woman’s Face – Science Museum, UK

This preserved piece of skin features a detailed tattoo of a woman’s portrait. Once part of a criminal collection, it is now displayed for forensic and cultural study purposes. These tattooed skins were often collected in the 19th century for criminological research—though today, their display is controversial.

13. The Museum of Broken Relationships – Zagreb, Croatia

Unlike traditional museums, this one displays everyday objects left behind after breakups—from love letters to smashed cellphones. Each item comes with a story, making it a deeply emotional and peculiar collection. Some stories are heartbreaking, others humorous, and a few are downright bizarre, creating a powerful human experience from seemingly mundane objects.

14. The Penis of Rasputin – Russia (Disputed)

Rumored to be preserved in a jar and displayed in the Museum of Erotica in St. Petersburg, this item is allegedly Rasputin’s severed member. Experts debate its authenticity, but it continues to draw curious visitors. Regardless of whether it’s real, it symbolizes the mystique and myths surrounding Rasputin’s life—and death.

15. Two-Headed Animals – Ripley’s Believe It or Not Museums, Worldwide

Ripley’s museums house a variety of taxidermy oddities, including two-headed calves, lambs, and even snakes. While some are genuine, others are carefully crafted hoaxes. These exhibits highlight nature’s rare mutations and the human fascination with anomalies.

Odd Museums You May Not Know Exist

Beyond these peculiar items, there are museums entirely dedicated to strange subjects. Consider visiting:

• Avanos Hair Museum in Turkey – thousands of locks of hair donated by women around the world.
• International Cryptozoology Museum in Maine, USA – dedicated to Bigfoot, sea monsters, and other mythical creatures.
• Sulabh International Museum of Toilets in India – showcasing toilet technology through the ages.
• Momofuku Ando Instant Ramen Museum in Japan – dedicated to the invention and culture of instant noodles.

Why Are We Drawn to the Strange?

Human beings are naturally curious, especially about the things that challenge our understanding of normal. These odd artifacts and exhibits satisfy a psychological itch to explore the unknown, confront our fears, and laugh at the absurd. They also offer deeper insights into how societies perceive death, hygiene, belief, love, and the body.

From a historical standpoint, these items preserve aspects of culture that often go undocumented—folk beliefs, personal hygiene tools, private mementos, and taboo medical specimens. They remind us that history isn’t just about empires and battles; it's also about the strange, the forgotten, and the deeply personal.

How These Museums Contribute to Education

Though bizarre, many of these collections play an important educational role. Medical museums highlight rare conditions, teaching future healthcare professionals. Cultural museums with strange objects encourage debate about ethics, identity, and representation. Even humorous or quirky museums spark curiosity, especially in younger visitors who may find traditional institutions boring.

By preserving and presenting the oddities of the world, museums challenge us to expand our definition of what’s worth remembering. They also encourage us to explore perspectives different from our own, and sometimes, they simply remind us that life is far stranger than fiction.

Conclusion

These 15 odd museum items—and the strange museums that house them—offer more than shock value. They reflect humanity's complexities, obsessions, and boundless curiosity. Whether it's a mummified heart, a parasite, or a piece of broken romance, these artifacts challenge our expectations and invite us to view the world through a different lens. So next time you’re planning a trip, skip the usual tourist spots and seek out a museum that dares to be different. You might leave laughing, cringing, or crying—but you’ll never leave bored.

@2025 Haruka Cigem - Curious Facts Explored.