How long should I plan for a visit?

Plan about one hour for a guided look through the exhibits; more time if you want to study specific specimens in detail.

All ages are welcome, but caregivers should consider whether younger children are comfortable with anatomical displays.

How do I check in when I arrive?

Ring 0014 and wait for the door to buzz, then proceed downstairs and follow signage to the museum.

Are the specimens real human bones?

Yes; the museum houses human osteological specimens used for education and research, including rare pathologies and trauma cases.

Is photography allowed inside?

Photography policies vary—ask staff on arrival for permission to take close-up images of specimens or labels.

Can I bring a group or request a guided orientation?

Educators and groups can request orientations in advance; contact the museum to schedule group visits.

Inside the Bone Museum in Brooklyn: Visit the Largest Public Collection of Human Spines

Adventure Brief

Step into a focused, scholarly exhibit at 255 McKibbin St Studio 0014 where more than 150 skulls and the largest public collection of human spines in the U.S. are on display. This hour-long visit is equal parts anatomy classroom and cultural history—ideal for curious minds and students of medicine.

1 hour

easy

From $23.55

The Bone Museum in Brooklyn is a compact, focused exhibit at 255 McKibbin St Studio 0014, Brooklyn, NY 11206 that brings human osteology into public view. Located in an industrial stretch of East Williamsburg, the museum displays the largest public collection of human spines in the United States alongside more than 150 skulls and a range of pathological and trauma-affected specimens. You enter through a buzzer at Ring 0014, head downstairs, and follow signage to a tidy, dimly lit gallery where bone becomes evidence, history, and teaching tool. Key features include long rows of articulated vertebrae, curated trays of skulls arranged by age and pathology, and interpretive panels that trace the history of the medical bone trade. The collection highlights rare pathologies - Gigantism among them - trauma cases, and age-development sequences that make skeletal change visible. The space emphasizes scientific description over sensationalism: labels explain context, provenance, and the educational value of preserved human remains. The museum's tone is civil and instructive, aimed at learners of all ages who are comfortable with anatomical displays. Because this is the largest public spine collection in the U.S., researchers and curious visitors alike find opportunities to study variation in vertebral morphology up close. The displays reveal not only medical oddities but also broader cultural history: how bones circulated through medical markets, how museums and collectors acquired specimens, and how ethics around display have evolved. Logistics are simple but specific. Allow about an hour for a thorough visit; smaller group self-guided browsing works best. Ring 0014 on arrival and wait for the door to buzz, then proceed downstairs. Tickets can be reserved online or purchased at the desk. The interior lighting and close-quarters cases reward slow observation - bring a notepad or use a camera if permitted. Photography policies vary so ask staff if you plan to shoot close-ups. Beyond the exhibits, the museum sits in a neighborhood of converted warehouses and small galleries, so combine your visit with a coffee or a walk through local murals. The Bone Museum is a unique cultural anchor for Brooklyn's experimental museum scene: it turns collections rarely seen by the public into an accessible classroom and invites careful attention to anatomy, history, and the ethical stewardship of human remains. For anyone curious about what bones can tell us - about health, trauma, and the trades that moved specimens around the world - this is an uncommonly direct, candid place to learn. Staff are available to answer questions about provenance, research, and community engagement; educators can request group orientations in advance. Respectful behavior around human remains is required, and the museum frames displays as an educational resource rather than entertainment. Plan transit time: nearby subway lines and bike lanes connect the area to Brooklyn and Manhattan.

About The Bone Museum

The Bone Museum in Brooklyn, New York, preserves and displays one of the most extensive public assemblages of human skeletal material in the United States. The institution presents a focused, evidence-driven exhibition of spines, skulls, and associated pathology, trauma, and anatomical variation. Visitors encounter rare pathologies and documented cases that illuminate medical history, forensics, and the ethical dimensions of the historical medical bone trade.

Exhibits are organized to be accessible to a wide audience while remaining rigorous and factual. Labeling and interpretive text prioritize clinical accuracy and provenance information, explaining how specimens were collected, curated, and contextualized. The Bone Museum’s General Admission experience guides guests through core themes: vertebral anatomy, cranial variation, documented trauma, and the history of the medical bone market.

As a public-facing collection, the museum emphasizes transparency and education. It offers non-sensational, scholarly presentations suitable for students, researchers, and curious members of the public. The Bone Museum contributes to public understanding of human anatomy, pathology, and the societal context of medical collecting without making speculative claims beyond documented evidence.

Located in Brooklyn, The Bone Museum provides a compact, focused visit that complements other science and medical history institutions. The museum’s curation practices and clear interpretive material support trust and credibility, enabling visitors to engage with sensitive material respectfully and informed by documented historical and anatomical sources. The General Admission entry offers a self-guided walkthrough highlighting spine and skull displays, rare pathologies, documented trauma cases, and explanatory labels that clarify provenance and scientific context for all visitors, safely.