Anatomical Museum of the Edinburgh Medical School

The museum has on display 40 life masks and death masks of renowned individuals from famous scientists and politicians to notorious murderers. Plus skeletons and other anatomical items and sketches from the last 200 years.

The museum is open daily to the public.

History

The Anatomical Museum, founded and developed by the Monro dynasty, flourished under Sir William Turner, Professor of Anatomy from 1867 to 1903, and Principal of the University from 1903 to 1917. Turner had broad interests in evolution and comparative anatomy and built up the impressive collections displayed.

The splendid museum hall was at the heart of the new Medical School designed by the architect Robert Rowand Anderson. It opened with great ceremony in 1884.

Anatomy Lecture Theatre

The lecture theatre follows the traditional pattern with a dissecting table at its centre and surrounding steeply racked benches. Designed by the architect Robert Rowand Anderson in 1884, it is still in use today.

The Skulls Room

The museum holds a large collection of skulls from all around the world.

Burke and Hare

Burke and Hare were two Irishmen, resident in Edinburgh, who conceived a scheme of supplying bodies used for dissection in the early 19th century. Their method was to entice friendless people in their house in the West Port district in the Old Town, stupefy them with drinks and thereafter suffocate them and sell bodies to the porters at Dr Robert Knox's anatomy rooms.

At least 16 people were thus done to death before Burke and Hare were apprehended and tried in December 1828. 

Burke was hanged in 1829 after Hare testified against him.

Burke's skeleton is now displayed in the Anatomy Museum of the Edinburgh Medical School. His death mask and a book said to be made from his tanned skin can be seen at the Surgeons' Hall Museum.

As surgeon Robert Knox was the first conservator of the museum there are also specimens, instruments and other artefacts relating to him and the period of the 1820s to 1850s.

Up the close and down the stair,
In the house with Burke and Hare.
Burke's the butcher, Hare's the thief,
Knox, the boy who buys the beef.

19th-century Children's rhyme