Canyon City, Oregon: Human Skulls, Freak Calves - Grant County Historical Museum

Among its many exhibits are three two-headed calves and the skulls of the first two men hanged in Grant County.

The skulls and the two-headed cows are memorable, but for us the real attraction at the Grant County museum was the extremely scary mannequins used in the dioramas.

The sculptor's grasp of human anatomy is shaky at best, which is perfectly understandable if the mannequins were crafted by some local whittling enthusiast. The haphazard use of human teeth and glass eyes, however, is just inexplicable.

The two headed calf and human skulls [of the hanged men] mentioned are indeed there. The museum was $4 per person but well worth it.

The tip you have published about the stuffed mutant livestock is correct. It's worth the trip just to see them.

However, your tipster missed the two very best attractions in the Grant County Museum. Tucked away in a display case are two human skulls. A sign under one skull says "first man hanged in Grant County," with a name and date. And the second sign says "second man hanged in Grant County," with the same details. I am so glad I took a closer look! Also on the premises is a creepy old homstead house and a wooden jail with two cells that you can still go in- no velvet ropes or plexiglas to stop you.

There is a great local museum that has a couple of two-headed calves mounted on the wall.