In 1865 it was necessary to remove some bodies from the local cemetery to make room for more as it quickly had filled up. What the authorities discovered were surprising as the bodies were not skeletons as expected. They dug up flesh mummified bodies with grotesque forms and weird facial expressions.
Research showed that the dry climate, the extremely dry soil and the mineral content of the earth combined had preserved the bodies in this unique way. It takes about 5-6 years to become mummified when buried here.
Since space is still tight, bodies are regularly dug up if the relatives can't afford to pay the fees for the space in the cemetery. So now to the big question: what should the authorities do with such a great amount of mummies? In most parts of the world they would be cremated but Mexicans got a better idea; why not put them in a museum and earn money on them? Aye! Said and done!
Museo de las Momias de Guanajuato (Mummy Museum) today exhibits more than 100 dead bodies. Only 1-2% of the today dug up bodies are of "display quality specimens" so only the best are chosen; the rest are sadly burned. The exibition includes some highlights like the first mummy discovered, a pregnant mummy, baby mummies (amongst them the world's smallest mummy) and plenty more.
If you decide to enter this place there is a tiny risk that you will feel a bit sick.
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