As one of Gatlinburg, Tennessee’s newest family attractions, Bodies Human is something a bit different from the typical tourist attraction and a great one to add to your vacation itinerary. This unique exhibit features over a dozen real human bodies along with over 100 anatomical displays.
The idea of this attraction is to allow visitors to marvel at the complexities of the human body and explore the contrast between healthy and diseased organs. The mission is to give a deeper understanding of the miracle of human life. This is done by offering an inside glimpse, quite literally, into the inner workings of the human body underneath the skin.
Plastination, which is used to preserve the real human bodies featured in the exhibit, is a process that was developed in 1978 to halt decomposition of the human body, preserving it for medical and scientific educational purposes. The process extracts the bodily fluids and replaces them with reactive plastics to ensure preservation. The entire process of plastination of the human body takes between three and six months.
The human bodies displayed in the exhibits are not bloody or gross in any way. Guests shouldn’t be afraid to bring kids along as a result. In fact, these exhibits can be educational and a great way to show kids— visually— how disease and unhealthy habits like smoking can impact their organs and the overall health of their bodies.
Along with the real human bodies, there are other displays made of anatomically correct displays that communicate different educational aspects and feature various parts of the body. Bodies Human features a variety of exhibit categories, allowing guests to move through the attraction, going from one part of the body to another.
Some of the coolest exhibits to look for are the “slice of life” exhibit, which is featured in a few areas within the attraction. This is a unique display of an organ and, in another area, the entire human body, thinly sliced to allow guests to examine every square inch of the human anatomy.
Another one that is pretty interesting is the “anatomy in motion” displays. These are bodies positioned in athletic movement, such as dribbling a basketball, so guests can look inside the human body and see all the muscles, nerves, and tendons that are impacted by physical activity.
This attraction is still new, so there are more additions to come with the expected inclusion of a fetus area, showing the human body even before birth. When entering Bodies Human, guests are given a guide book, which tells them everything they need to know about each exhibit, what they are looking at, and why it’s important.
Human life is a miracle, and Bodies Human allows guests to explore this miracle from the inside out. It gives a glimpse inside the human body that is typically hidden from view. Anyone who loves anatomy, biology, or just the study of the human body in general will enjoy this Gatlinburg attraction.
Although Bodies Human has only recently opened in Gatlinburg, there are other similar exhibits located in other parts of the country. These attractions have good reviews from previous guests, proclaiming it was an immensely educational and interesting experience. Some even said it wasn’t for the faint of heart but was ideal for those who love Science and enjoy learning more about the inner workings of the human body.
The amount of time guests take to walk through all the attractions is individual and based on their own pace. There is no set time schedule. However, previous guests of other similar exhibits claim that it typically takes around an hour to thoroughly look through every single exhibit.
Insider Tips:
-No photography. This is applicable for either camera or cell phone cameras. No cameras of any kind are allowed within the attraction. This is to pay respect to the real human bodies displayed inside.
-Look for Bodies Human next to the Space Needle in Gatlinburg. Parking is located nearby.
-Bodies Human offers a 20% discount to seniors as well as first responders and military personnel.