The Bone Museum

Step into a realm where history and science converge at The Bone Museum, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Our latest video highlights some of our most captivating new additions: an exostosis (or “rider’s bone”)—a rare bony growth sometimes found in the femur of horseback riders, a medically modified human hand, a femur displaying the destructive lesions of advanced syphilitic infection, and many more. These, alongside countless other rare and unusual specimens, offer a powerful glimpse into the intricate stories bones can tell — from development and trauma to the enduring mysteries of medical history. #osteology #humanbone

Step into a realm where history and science converge at The Bone Museum, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Our latest video highlights some of our most captivating new additions: a fully fused human spine, a tibia with an amputation, Gordon (a fan-favorite fetal skeleton purchased from a doctor at NYU), a femur with gigantism, and many more. These, alongside countless other rare and unusual specimens, offer a powerful glimpse into the intricate stories bones can tell — from development and trauma to the enduring mysteries of medical history. #bonetok #humanbone #osteology

This Sunday, July 20th, we’re hosting a very special event at The Bone Museum. Johnny—who underwent a below-the-knee amputation in 2015 and made the extraordinary decision to have his leg skeletonized—will be joining us in person to share his story of resilience, transformation, and reclaiming one’s narrative. We’re honored to have both Johnny and his actual leg on display in the museum as part of our collection. July 20th he’ll be here to meet guests, answer questions, and shed light on what it means to turn trauma into education.

Step into a realm where history and science converge at The Bone Museum, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Our latest video highlights some of our most captivating new additions: an exostosis (or “rider’s bone”)—a rare bony growth sometimes found in the femur of horseback riders, a medically modified human hand, a femur displaying the destructive lesions of advanced syphilitic infection, and many more. We’re also thrilled to introduce Bone Jovi, our new feline companion and unofficial museum mascot. Plus, on display now: a skull from an individual with gigantism who would have stood over 7’3” tall, and a craniotomy specimen showing signs of severe infection. These, alongside countless other rare and unusual specimens, offer a powerful glimpse into the intricate stories bones can tell — from development and trauma to the enduring mysteries of medical history.

Step into a realm where history and science converge at The Bone Museum, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Our latest video highlights some of our most captivating new additions: a femur affected by polio, a skull exhibiting signs of tertiary syphilis, and the incredible honor of displaying a skeletonized foot from Johnny — who underwent a below-the-knee amputation in 2015 and has generously loaned his leg to the museum. Plus, meet our newest team member: Bone Jovi, the museum cat. These, alongside countless other rare and unique specimens, offer a powerful glimpse into the intricate stories bones can tell — from development and trauma to the enduring mysteries of medical history.

Step into a realm where history and science converge at The Bone Museum, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Our latest video highlights some of our most captivating new additions: a rare adult mandible showing a full set of teeth, a newly acquired exploded skull, and an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at our Research Facility. These, alongside many other rare and unusual specimens, offer a powerful glimpse into the intricate stories bones can tell — from development and trauma to the enduring mysteries of medical history.

Step into a realm where history and science converge at The Bone Museum, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Our latest video showcases some of our most compelling new acquisitions: a rare child skeleton, a femur with a severe malunion break, a massive osteoma, and an original Maison Tramond maxilla preparation dating back over a century. Each piece offers a powerful glimpse into the complexities of the human body and the stories bones can tell.

This femur broke clean in half—and healed like that. In today’s video, we’re diving into one of the most serious fractures the human body can endure: a complete femur break. We’ll talk about why femur fractures are so dangerous, how they’re normally treated with modern medicine, and why this one might have healed without intervention. From trauma to biology, this bone has a lot to say.

What causes someone to grow over 7 feet tall?🦴 In this video, we break down the difference between gigantism and acromegaly, two conditions caused by excess growth hormone—but at very different stages of life. From pituitary tumors to skeletal changes, discover how timing makes all the difference in how these conditions shape the human body.

Meet Bone Jovi — the newest member of The Bone Museum team 🐾🦴 Originally joining us through a cat adoption event with Best Friends Animal Society, Bone Jovi quickly stole our hearts (and our visitors’ too). Calm, curious, and incredibly charming, he was the standout among the adoptable cats — so we made it official. He now joins us full-time as our resident professional mouser and feline ambassador, following in the pawprints of our beloved and now-retired museum cat, Chonk, who loyally served for five years before retiring to a cushier life at home. Come say hi to Bone Jovi on your next visit — he might just give you a tour 🐱✨

What Happens When You Ride Too Much? 🐎 This bony bump isn’t just a coincidence—it’s called rider’s bone, or rider’s exostosis. Found most often in horseback riders, it’s caused by repeated pressure and friction against the inner thigh, leading the body to lay down extra bone as a protective response. In this video, we take a close look at this fascinating adaptation and what it reveals about the life and habits of those who rode long and hard.

Why would someone have part of their skull removed? Craniotomies are surgical openings in the skull—often done to access the brain for tumor removal, relieve pressure, or treat trauma. In this video, we show what a craniotomy looks like on real bone

What does polio do to your bones?🦴 In this video, we take a close look at a femur affected by paralytic polio—thin, twisted, and warped from years of disuse. Learn how this once-common virus reshaped the skeleton. #polio

Not all spinal curves are created equal. 🌀 This is kyphosis—a forward rounding of the spine that can range from a subtle stoop to a pronounced hunchback. It can be postural, congenital, degenerative, or the result of trauma or disease like osteoporosis. In this video, we break down the different types of kyphosis, what causes them, and how they leave their mark on the bones. 🦴

At the Bone Museum, we rarely get to know the full story behind the bones we care for—but this time, we do. It’s an incredible honor to display Johnny’s leg and help share his journey living with a long-term condition: club foot. His story is a powerful reminder that surgery isn’t always a miracle cure, and that chronic conditions can leave lasting impacts. We’re proud to help raise awareness through this piece—and even prouder to introduce you to Johnny himself. Stay tuned to learn more. (Quick side note: Skulls Unlimited doesn’t clean entire skeletons for the public, but they do clean parts—such as legs, knees, and other individual bones—just not whole skeletons.)

Meet Gordon, our 32-week-old fetal skeleton. In this video, we explore the causes and clues behind late-term fetal demise—what can go wrong in the final stretch of pregnancy, and how those stories can still be told through bone. Gordon help us understand prenatal development, medical history, and the fragility of life before birth.

Step into a realm where history and science converge at The Bone Museum, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Our latest video highlights some of our most captivating new additions: a non-union femoral neck fracture, a skull with leprosy completely missing its nose, a metal hip replacement, and a child skeleton prepared by Carolina Biological Supply in 1984. These, alongside countless other rare and unusual specimens, offer a powerful glimpse into the intricate stories bones can tell — from development and trauma to the enduring mysteries of medical history.

Come meet Johnny — the man behind the leg. 🦵🦿 On July 20th, he’s joining us at The Bone Museum to share his story in person. Born with a club foot and after a lifetime of surgeries, pain, and ultimately amputation, Johnny made the rare decision to have his leg medically skeletonized. Now, it’s on display — and so is his resilience. Don’t miss this unforgettable chance to learn about his journey firsthand. 🦴 📍The Bone Museum 📅 Sunday, July 20th ⏰ More Details Coming Soon!

Step into a realm where history and science converge at The Bone Museum, located in the heart of Brooklyn, New York. Our latest video highlights some of our most captivating new additions: the skull of an individual with gigantism who stood over 7 feet 3 inches tall, a rare femur affected by polio, a skull that has been completely disarticulated for anatomical study, and the preserved remains of an ankle amputation — each telling a remarkable story of the human body’s extremes and adaptations. These, alongside countless other rare and unusual specimens, offer a powerful glimpse into the intricate stories bones can tell — from development and trauma to the enduring mysteries of medical history.

What causes bones to break so easily—sometimes before birth? In this video, we break down osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), a genetic disorder that disrupts the body’s ability to make strong collagen. From Type I to Type VIII, we explore how each type of OI affects the body differently, what gene mutations are responsible, and why some forms are more severe than others. Whether it’s mild bone fragility or life-threatening skeletal deformities, this video explains how a single protein can make all the difference.