Has anyone been to the BodyWorlds Exhibits?-We went About This Page:

[Huntermom]

My DD 18, future physician, very much want to the Body Worlds Exhibit at the Museum of Science. Her cousins went to the one in NYC and enjoyed it. My son in Houston says he has had friends go and they think it either really cool, really creepy, or both.

I'm trying to decide if I should take her alone or wait until my other son can make it. I looked at some pictures online and they looked OK but when the paper had an article, I thought it looked really creepy.

Any opinions?

Diane

[BostonTeaParty]

We have a family membership to the MOS-Boston, and have received info on the show. I don't know if I'm up for checking out dead bodies that have been injected with plastic, and my DH Paul has an even weaker stomach. I have heard from a few people that it's an awesome exhibit, if you're up for it. If your DD is planning on becoming a doctor, she may really find it interesting.

[mom23k9s]

My mom and I went last summer when it was in Chicago. We found it fascinating, but we're both science people (chemists). It's clinical, but artistic at the same time. There was nothing gross or gory or creepy. The exhibits really just look like plastic.

One thing that really wowed me was the displays of the smoker's lung vs the nonsmokers and the clean arteries vs the plaque clogged arteries. Really makes you think about the stuff you put in your body.

I recommend it highly for all of you, your son included. Very educational.

[disneyfan2183]

I saw the exhibit when it was at the South Street Seaport, and it was... interesting. I'm not good with stuff like that so it did creep/gross me out.

I also thought it was interesting, and scary, to see the smoker's versus the non-smoker's lung. Don't smoke!

You can also hold a a human heart or lung. If your daughter wants to be a physician, I would definitely recommend seeing it.

[JoanW]

See my post about a possible trip to Boston! It's the whole reason for me coming up there. I'm just miffed I missed it in Philly.

It was featured on the History Channel's History of Taxidermy and I found the whole thing fascinating, but then again, I am Science Mom (add groans from children).

I lived for the Jacques Cousteau shows on tv as a kid. I always volunteered to run to the lab with "samples" as a candy striper, just to see the pyrex beakers and pipettes in use. I worked in the FBI crime lab for years and stored my lunch in the evidence fridge So yes, I am working on getting up there to see it.

PS. On my desk my pens and pencils are stored in beakers of many sizes. And scalpels for opening mail! [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

[Huntermom]

When the kids were younger, we were long time MOS members, but as the boys went off to school, dropped the membership. I am debating joining again. My kids loved the MOS and thier first encounters with disection were there as pre-schoolers. They would always disect something in the Body Connection, a favorite of the kids.

As soon as I can get my DS2 to decide if he wants to join us, I'm going to order tickets online for Sunday. He's a expert birder and doing his annual pelagic trip to VEatch's Canyon with the Brookline Bird Club Saturday, with a 4:00 a.m. start and will be staying overnight on the Cape with some birding buddies. He's not sure he's up to a museum day the next day.

I know DD will love it (she and her friends took pictures of their disection cat in anatomy and physiology last year). I just wasn't sure if I should go alone with her or go another day when her brother could definately come along so she would not feel she had to hurry out for me. All her high school friends have already left for school.

I'll let you all know what I think.

By the way Joan, when I was exploring the website, I noticed that the MOS had a package with the Royal Sonesta. We stayed there when the kids were young and it was a great hotel and walking distance to the museum. Back then they also had free ice cream in the afternoon and free boat trips on the Charles.

Thanks to all.

Diane

[Carousel96]

We saw it here in Mpls about 2 weeks ago. Took our 6 1/2 year old & it didn't faze her in the least. She wasn't the youngest kid there, though the ones much younger weren't paying much attention. She really wanted to see a brain, and was fascinated by the smokers lungs -- spent the rest of hte exhibit trying to figure out which people smoked and which didn't. Guess if she takes that lesson with her it was worth it!
I thought it was really interesting and not nearly as creepy as I'd expected. (Actually, I thought it was more loyal to people's humanity than the old style cutting people into layers to look). We did, however, skip the reproduction section and the mom who died while pregnant.

[loobyoxlip]

I think it sounds really educational - especially for someone interested in becoming a physician. Be sure to share your thoughts on it if you go [img]/ubb/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

[Huntermom]

I ended up taking my DD only to the Body Worlds Exhibit. MY DS2 did not get home from hisboat trip on time, but we may take another trip on one of the kids breaks as DD wants to go back.

I would highly recommend this exhibit. I did nt find it "creepy" at all. I though the bodies looked more like models than actual bodies and because most show muscles and internal organs, not what I think of as a body. Much of the exhibit was not entire bodies, but body parts, noral and diseased, in cases. Again, you could convince yourself these were plastic, if so inclined.

The bodies themeselves could be quite artisitically displayed.

I was struck by how quiet and respectful most people were in the exhibit. I heard only one family with small children speaking loudly. There were very few children under 13 or so in the exhibit which seemed appropriate. Many patrons rented the guided tour tapes, which slowed down the beginning of the exhibit, but onc past the first few cases, people flowed well through the rooms.

I actually found the camel display most interesting. There was also a colt. I would ahve liked to see a fewmore animlas in contrast.

I would highly recommend it for anyone over 12. I think some 6-12 year olds would like ohter, oother's too young to have the patience to go through it as it has no bells and whistles. the cases were actually quite high and I'm not sure how easily a young child could see them.

I was also impressed that except for one person, every obey the do not touch rule -without barriers.

We ended the day by driving over to Quincy Market, where I got a mediocre lobster roll (expensive too) and DD got a sausage sandwhich. We both love the sites and smells here.

Diane

[JoanW]

Oh I'm so glad you went too. Now I really want to go. I have to start watching flights to Boston or Providence.

[Huntermom]

Joan,

Southwest frequently had $38./each way trips from BWI to Manchester, NH, (MHT) just 45 minutes to an hour north of Boston. I actually think it's closer than Providence, whose airport is around 20 minutes south of the city.

Although I was skeptical before I went, I now highly recommend anyone that can, go to the exhibit.


Diane