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Traveling Vest Virginia
PHILIPPI MUMMIES

Mummies in Barbour County? Yep! and it will only cost you a dollar!



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In 1888, local businessman and inventor Graham Hamrick created an embalming process that proved to be much safer than the current mixture of arsnic and mercury. His salt peter and sulphur process eventually won a US patent. But the journey proved to be strange and somewhat bizzare. After successfully testing his mixture on fruit and animals, Hamrick was ready for human experiments. He asked officials at The Weston State Hospital for the Insane for any unclaimed cadavers. Hamrick performed his embalming process on 2 female cadavers, at the hospital and was successful in preserving the bodies. He went on to become very successful in the embalming business. The 2 original mummies still exist, and are on display at the Barbour County Historical Society Museum in Philippi. They are kept in a back room, and a one dollar donation is required to see them. There are several other articles of historical significance in the museum, but none as interesting as the mummies.

BARBOUR COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY MUSEUM

Barbour County Historical Society Museum Person Interviewed: Susie Lambert
Title: Museum Currator
Date: Open all year
Hours: Winter hours 11am to 4pm Wednesday, Friday, Saturday. 1pm to 4pm Sunday.
Location: Barbour County, West Virginia
Address: 200 North Main Street, Philippi, WV 26418
Phone: 304-457-4846
Rates: Museum is free. Mummy tour, $1.00.




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