Mummies of Guanajuato
It seems like all the movies nowadays have mummies as the antagonist but they’re always people with makeup walking strangely. Are they based on real mummies? Do mummies even exist? There’s a museum in Guanajuato Mexico dedicated to real life mummies.
Its called Museo de los Momias de Guanajuato. The history is pretty gruesome. Back in the 1800s the city established a local tax that living relatives had to pay to keep their deceased loved ones interred. If you don’t pay, they dig the body up and put someone else in that grave. The environment and climate of the area is such that bodies are naturally mummified. The cemetery workers would dig them up and store them in a warehouse. Not very respectful…
Mexico has a natural affinity for the dead. The holiday “The Day of the Dead” or “El Dia de los Muertos” is widely celebrated and features garishly painted skulls. So people started paying to see the mummies in the warehouse and a formal display started in 1865. If your loved ones don’t pay to keep you buried, your neighbors will pay to see you on display.
Admission is $85 MXN or $4.34 US and, according to the official website, there is an additional $30 MXN charge to use your camera. It’s worth the additional $1.50 USD.
The museum has many mummies in various states of decay, often with their clothings rotting on them. It’s quite dark, as you can see, with overhead lighting intended to set a mood.
The cause of death is quite evident for many of the mummies. The one above was killed by stabbing in 1940 and has been on display since 1946.
The most gruesome was the pregnant mother and child.
The Museo de las Momias was quite an experience. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen something like that. I do recommend a visit if you’re in the neighborhood.
~ Freddy
