The Health Museum to Debut New BODY WORLDS: Inside Life Exhibit
Offering an extraordinary look inside the human body through authentic human specimens
The Health Museum, an interactive health science museum located in the heart of the Houston Museum District, will debut BODY WORLDS: Inside Life on Saturday, October 10, 2026. This newly curated exhibition invites visitors of all ages to explore the remarkable inner workings of the human body, inspiring curiosity, understanding, and awe.
The all-new exhibition showcases authentic plastinated human specimens to reveal the hidden systems—such as the nervous, respiratory, and musculoskeletal systems—that keep the body moving, breathing, and living.
Curated by Dr. Angelina Whalley, director of the Institute for Plastination, BODY WORLDS: Inside Life explores life from the inside out through plastination, the groundbreaking preservation technique developed by renowned anatomist Dr. Gunther von Hagens. The exhibition features real human specimens, from complete bodies to individual organs and intricate anatomical slices, offering a fascinating look at the structures and processes that sustain life.
Exhibit Areas include:
Breath of Life: Discover the respiratory system and the remarkable process that brings oxygen into every part of the body.
Flow of Life: Follow the circulatory system as blood carries oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Fuel for Life: Explore the digestive system and discover how the body transforms food into the energy and nutrients we need.
Inner Balance: Discover how the kidneys help maintain the body’s internal balance by regulating fluids, electrolytes and waste products.
The Signal Network: Explore the nervous system and the intricate network that connects the brain, body, and senses.
Continuity of Life: Discover the reproductive system and the biological processes that make new life possible.
Built to Move: Learn how the musculoskeletal works so that bones, muscles, and joints give the body strength, stability, and movement.
Ahead of the exhibition’s public opening, guests will have a special opportunity to hear directly from Dr. Angelina Whalley during a presentation on Thursday, October 8, 2026, from 11 a.m.– noon. Dr. Whalley will share the story behind BODY WORLDS: Inside Life, discuss the science of plastination, and take questions from the audience.
The presentation is included with general Museum admission, with seating available as space allows. BODY WORLDS: Inside Life officially opens to the public on Saturday, October 10, 2026. The exhibit will be available until 2028.
Photos courtesy of The Health Museum.
About The Health Museum:
Located in the heart of the Houston Museum District, The Health Museum’s mission is to foster wonder and curiosity about health, medical science, and the human body. The Health Museum is one of the most interactive and popular health science learning centers of its kind and is a favorite among Houstonians. Since the museum’s opening in 1969, visitors have benefited from the intriguing exhibits and unmatched programming developed in partnerships with leading medical and scientific experts. As a member institution of the Texas Medical Center, and the only Smithsonian Affiliate Museum in the Houston Museum District, The Health Museum is a culturally significant educational asset that attracts learners of all ages.
General admission to The Health Museum is $15 for ages 13 and older; $12 for children 3 to 12 years old and seniors 65 and above; free for children two and younger; and free admission for everyone on Thursdays from 2-5p.m. General admission provides access to the Museum’s multiple exhibits.
Through the Museums for All program, guests can visit The Health Museum for a minimal fee of $3 per general admission ticket, for up to four people, with the presentation of a SNAP Electronic Benefits Transfer (EBT) card. From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the Museum participates in the Blue Star Museum program, which allows active military members and their families free admission to the Museum. They are also members of the Association of Science and Technology Centers (ASTC).
The Health Museum hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday 10 a.m.- 5 p.m.; Thursday 10 a.m.-5p.m. (Free Family Thursday Hours are 2-5 p.m.); and Sunday 12-5 p.m. Closed Monday except for Federal holidays and Memorial Day through Labor Day. For more information about The Health Museum, visit thehealthmuseum.org or follow us on Facebook and Instagram.
