Lima, Ohio: Noah's Ark, Dillinger's Jail Cell, Things Swallowed
Animated dead animals, Public Enemy #1, and a collection of objects swallowed and removed by a doctor -- all in one unusual county museum.
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This place was pretty neat! I especially liked the Noah's Ark exhibit -- very high-tech for 1901. The Things Swallowed was also very interesting.
[Nick B., 08/13/2011]They just completed a major expansion. There's a full sized locomotive inside now. My kids loved it. It's like going to a museum still in the '60s.
[Mark, 06/23/2010]The entry for Lima, Ohio concerning the items swallowed by mental patients is not quite accurate. Dr. Yingling's display of swallowed items were from every day people, such as the father who swallowed the open diaper pin, or someone who swallowed a partial denture. There were buttons, pins, chicken bones, and lots of items that should never have been in someone's mouth!
It is a fascinating display that very much impressed my children on our many visits to the Allen County Museum.
Although Lima did house a State Hospital for the Criminally Insane (but no longer does), this stuff had nothing to do with it. The display isn't very big, and it is old.
There are many unusual items on display at that museum that makes it a worthwhile stop for anyone. The miniature Mount Vernon comes to mind -- it's a complete working duplicate of Mount Vernon with everything miniaturized yet working. It takes up a complete room. There is a button collection that takes up a whole hallway.
I have seen the albino animal collection, which are displayed with their normally colored counterparts. There is also a stuffed bird collection.
Truly, it is the best overall museum of any I've seen. Lots of strange and morbid stuff for those interested, and lots of great stuff of historical value.
[Linda Amey, 01/08/2001]The Allen County Museum is the home to the world's largest collection of albino animals (stuffed, of course). The small animals are housed in the museum itself while the larger game is located in the Victorian Mansion next door.
[Amy E. Fuhrman, 06/02/2000]A personal collection of a local doctor donated to the Allen County Museum, Lima, OH.
[Janelle Lawrence, 01/01/1997][Previous 5 items] Page of 2
Noah's Ark, Dillinger's Jail Cell, Things Swallowed
Allen County Museum
- Address:
- 620 West Market St., Lima, OH
- Directions:
- Allen County Museum. I-75 exit 127. Hwy 81 west into town. Cross Hwy 65 (West St.). Three blocks west of Hwy 65, turn left (south) on Metcalf. Turn right at the second corner onto Market. The Allen County Museum is on the right.
- Hours:
- Closed Mondays. (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
- Phone:
- 419-222-9426
- Admission:
- Free, $5 donation recommended.
- RA Rates:
- Major Fun
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Also see the Chevalier Jackson Collection of objects swallowed and removed, at the Mutter Museum, Philadelphia.PA. And don't forget the abstract art created from nails and pins swallowed by a mental patient at the Glore Psychiatric Museum.