Museum of Osteology
The Museum of Osteology, located in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S., is a private museum devoted to the study of bones and skeletons (osteology). This museum displays over 350 skeletons of animal species from all over the world.[1] With another 7000 specimens as part of the collection, but not on display, this is the largest privately held collection of osteological specimens in the world.[2][3][4]
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![]() Location in Oklahoma ![]() Location in United States | |
| Established | 2010 |
|---|---|
| Location | Oklahoma City, United States |
| Coordinates | 35.365371°N 97.442601°W |
| Type | Natural history museum |
| Collection size | 5,000+ skeletal specimens |
| Director | Jay Villemarette |
| Website | www |
Scope
The museum focuses on the form and function of the skeletal system with numerous educational and taxonomic displays featuring all five vertebrate classes.[4]
The collections housed by the Museum of Osteology are the result of over 40 years of collecting by Jay Villemarette.[5]
Currently, the collections consist of approximately 7,000 specimens representing over 2,500 species of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and fish.[6]
History
The museum was established by Jay Villemarette, founder of the company Skulls Unlimited International, Inc., which is located next to the museum.[2] Construction of the museum began in 2004 and it opened to the public on October 1, 2010.[2][3][7][8]
In 2015, the Museum of Osteology opened a second location, Skeletons: Museum of Osteology, at the I-Drive 360 entertainment complex in Orlando, Florida. This location is cited as the largest skeleton museum in America with over 500 skeletons on display.
Gallery
Exhibits including a humpback whale
Oklahoma wildlife
Primate skeletons on display
Skeleton of a Kinkajou
Skeletons on display
Elephant skeleton on display
Pygmy sperm whale skeleton on display
African lion attacking a common eland antelope skeleton
School bus tour group
The museum in the final stages of development, March 2010.
Ungulate skeletons on display
Various animal skeletons

References
- "Skeletons: Animals Unveiled! I-Drive 360". www.blooloop.com. Retrieved 2016-08-04.
- Urstadt, Brian (July 2006). "I'm Going to Rib-cage World". Outside Magazine. Archived from the original on 25 September 2010. Retrieved 17 June 2011.
- Raymond, Jeff (March 26, 2007). "Skeleton Crew". The Oklahoman. Archived from the original on August 23, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- Wheelbarger, Brent (Oct 1, 2008). "The Bone Collectors; The Biggest Skeletal Collection in the World Right Here in Moore Oklahoma" (PDF). Moore Monthly.
- Horton, Greg (October 25, 2006). "Bone Collector". Oklahoma Gazette. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- Brus, Brian (May 27, 2009). "Skull Junkie Finds Solid Future in Skeleton Frontier". The Journal Record. Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved April 9, 2010.
- Dinger, Matt (2010-11-15). "Museum Opens in Southeast Oklahoma City". The Daily Oklahoman.
- Gray, Aaron Wright (2010-10-30), "Villemarette Gets His Skeletons Out of the Closet", Norman Transcript, archived from the original on 2013-01-30, retrieved 2010-11-15
External links
| Wikimedia Commons has media related to Museum of Osteology. |
- Official website
- Museum of Osteology on AdventureRoad.com Destination Information & Travel Planning



