Philippi, West Virginia: Mummies of the Insane
RoadsideAmerica.com Team Field Report
Barbour County Historical Museum
- Address:
- 13 Museum St., Philippi, WV
- Directions:
- Barbour County Historical Museum. Junction of US 119 and 250. At the south end of the wooden bridge across the Tygart Valley River, on the left.
- Hours:
- May-Nov. Th-Sa 11-4, Su 1-5; or by appt. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 304-457-4846
- Admission:
- Donations welcome.
- RA Rates:
- The Best
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The bathroom in the Barbour County Historical Museum holds a treat -- two mummies preserved by a local Dr. Frankenstein.
Roadsideamerica.com Report...
Mummies of the Insane:
Graham Hamrick's preserved experiments are stars in a new edit from our 1994 LA-to-NYC Hypertour to see the mummies.
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Currently closed due to Covid-19. A new historical marker is visible at the building, the town's old train station.
[Farley Toothman, 08/31/2021]
The Mummies of the Insane are at the train museum. You have to pay for admission into the main section and pay an extra dollar to see the mummies. There are two in a tiny room. They are in excellent condition. Very cool.
[Marian C, 07/03/2011]
It's hard to believe these mummies are actually stored in the restroom of the train station! Most of the museum is dedicated to Civil War memorabilia, with a little mummy sideshow. I have to admit my goal was to see the mummies, as I went once before and was unable to see them as they were on a Mummy Roadshow trip. It is amazing to be able to see them so closely.
After paying the dollar, the museum hostess, who was amusing and delightful, unlocked the bathroom door and allowed us in. "If you need to, you can turn on the exhaust fan." Hopefully, if you go, you will have an opportunity to chat with the museum hostess who was very knowledgeable and quite entertaining.
[Ann T., 10/30/2009]Page of 2 [Next 3 items]
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The Mummy Chamber (formerly the bathroom) has been spruced up. A sign notes that Graham Hamrick's secret mummification technique included draining the body, injecting it with saltpeter, sticking it an airtight box and "infusing it with sulphur fumes over a long period of time."