How long does it take to go through the exhibition?
The museum experience is "self-guided" and "go-at-your-own-pace". The average time to thoroughly visit the exhibition is between an hour and an hour and a half.
Can you leave and come back to the exhibition during your visit?
Re-admittance is not permitted.
How long will the exhibition be running?
BODIES...The Exhibition opened in the fall of 2005 and has been extended indefinitely by popular demand.
Are lectures or other special events ever held at BODIES?
Yes. For the complete listing of special programming please refer to the SPECIAL EVENTS tab on the BODIES NY home page.
Is sketching or drawing permitted in the galleries?
Yes, sketch pads and dry materials are allowed at all times. On special "SKETCH NIGHTS" artists are also permitted to bring easels and chairs to assist with more extensive work. Wet materials are never permitted. For information on upcoming SKETCH NIGHTS please refer to the SPECIAL EVENTS tab.
Are there any rules and regulations for attending BODIES...The Exhibition?
The following are prohibited inside the galleries:
- No food or beverages.
- No pets - seeing eye dogs only.
- No photography - cameras, video camera phones.
- Cellular phones must be turned off in the exhibition.
- Smoking is not permitted in any area of the Exhibition Center.
What about parking, restaurants and other points of interest in the neighborhood?
BODIES is located in the heart of South Street Seaport, one of New York City's preeminent historic districts and tourist centers. For complete Seaport information, go to http://www.southstreetseaport.com.
Where do the full body specimens come from?
The full body specimens are persons who lived in China and died from natural causes. After the bodies were unclaimed at death, pursuant to Chinese law, they were ultimately delivered to a medical school for education and research. Where known, information about the identities, medical histories and causes of death is kept strictly confidential.
Why are separate body parts or organs displayed?
Our medical director has been able to identify obvious medical problems affecting particular individual organs and body parts that are separately on display in a number of cases throughout the exhibition, and these are indicated where appropriate. For example, a lung is displayed and the disease is identified as emphysema, so those who see it can gain a clearer understanding of this disease.
What is Polymer Preservation?
Polymer Preservation, the process used to preserve the specimens for BODIES…THE EXHIBITION, is a revolutionary technique in which human tissue is permanently preserved using liquid silicone rubber. This prevents the natural process of decay, making the specimens available for study for indefinite period of time.
How does it work?
Anatomists fix a specimen with chemicals to temporarily halt the decaying process. Then they dissect it to expose important structures. All of the water is removed from the specimen by replacing it with acetone. The specimen is placed into a liquid silicone mixture within a vacuum chamber. Under vacuum, the acetone becomes a gas that is completely replaced by the polymer mixture. Lastly, the silicone polymer is hardened. The end result is a dry, odorless, permanently preserved specimen containing no toxic chemicals. It retains the look of the original but functions as if it were rubber.