Museum of Osteology

Bones! We all have them, and at times, we all break them. But some people deal with more bones on a regular basis than most people would care to handle. No, I'm not talking about doctors. I'm talking about the people at The Museum of Osteology. This one of a kind museum isn't your normal kind of museum. Here, you will find over 400 skeletons ranging from the small finch bird to the massive humpback whale. 

Ninty percent of the bones are real, and any replicas are marked so you will know the difference between the artificial and the real bones. The skeletons in the middle of the exhibit are touchable. When you first walk in, you can actually see how the bones are cleaned with beetles. There are two floors with multiple categories. On the bottom floor are the touchable skeletons, and a few of the galleries which include those of human, primate, birds, and animals indiginous to Oklahoma.  There is also a section called Cultural Exhibits.

In the Cultural exhibits section, you will be able to witness how certain cultures around the world have used bones for either ceremonies, tools, or as a fashion style. In the human exhibit you will see various types of skulls and skeletons including a dwarf skeleton, a skull with a bullet wound, and even the elongated skull used by several South American cultures thousands of years ago.

On the second floor, you will find the snake, bat, and African animals exhibit. At the conclusion of the exhibit you will be able to test what you have learned by trying to identify 3 different skulls. Each skull has three hints.  Additionally, there is also a table in which you can handle several animals skulls such as the bear, the bobcat, and the raccoon. Finally, don't miss the video that tells the story of the people behind the scenes that make all this possible, Skulls Unlimited International. Here, you will be able to see how they take the rotting carcass of an animal, clean it, and then prepare it for display or shipping.

 By visiting this museum, in addition to the great opportunity you will have to learn about bones in general, you will have a chance to learn a great deal about bones of specific animals, some you may have never heard of.  For instance, have you ever heard of the Potto or the Sifaka?  Both are types of monkeys. Or, what about the Aye-Aye, an animal that has been debated for years on whether it is a rodent or a primate.  You will also hear of the Black Footed Ferret, who for years has been on the endangered species list, but which has made a remarkable comeback.  Before you leave, be sure to visit the gift shop for even more of an experience. Just like most other museum gift shops, they have T-shirts, necklaces, key chains  and similar items of those types.  But what makes this gift shop really unique is that you can buy bones. Yes, I said that correctly.  You can buy various skulls and bones, ranging from a finger bone to an human skull.  However, these bones do not come at a cheap price. They can range anywhere between $10 - $350. The Museum of Osteology is a one of a kind experience that will make you appreciate the bones we carry around with us and which helps us to stand up, walk, and just generally be animated.

Entertainment: 3
Educational: 4
Price: 4
Gift shop: 4
Cafe: N/A
Overall experience: 4

Additional Information

Address 
10301 S. Sunnylane Rd. Oklahoma City, OK

Hours of Operation
Mon. - Fri.: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m..

Sat.: 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Sun.: 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Prices
Adults: $6

Children under 13: $6

Military (with ID): $5

For more information visit their website: www.museumofosteology.org