Entry No. 14 — the Chicago file — filed under: oddities
Woolly Mammoth Antiques & Oddities
A crammed curiosity cabinet started in 2010 by a couple who were gifted a set of human teeth, this Andersonville shop leans hard into the remnants of the deceased. Bones and skulls share shelves with stuffed jackalopes, dental X-rays, papier-mache oddities, and an alligator turned into a lamp with a bulb in its mouth. Glass jars hold preserved animal fetuses and other biological specimens, and the store also runs hands-on taxidermy classes.
The story
Most antique shops start with estate sale sweeps or mid-century furniture. Woolly Mammoth started when founders Adam and Skye Rust realized they both brought personal collections of human teeth into their relationship. That mutual fixation on human leftovers, paired with a honeymoon spent tracking Vlad the Impaler across Europe, produced this Foster Avenue cabinet of curiosities in 2010.
The underlying motive isn't cheap shock value—it's memento mori. The owners stock medical relics, anatomical specimens, and skeletal remains as a way to stare down mortality, giving discarded biological remnants an unlikely afterlife. Walk the narrow space and you'll find shelves where human skulls and dental X-rays sit next to an alligator turned into a functional lamp with a bulb in its jaws, glass jars of preserved specimens floating in liquid, stuffed jackalopes, Victorian hair art, and vintage embalming tools.
If browsing isn't hands-on enough, you didn't hear it from us, but you can learn the craft yourself. The shop runs beginner taxidermy workshops where you spend a weekend learning the mechanics of skinning, prepping, and mounting specimens like farm-raised pheasants to take home.
What it's like
Stepping inside feels less like shopping and more like intruding on a crowded anatomical study. The aisles are tight, packed floor to ceiling with glass jars and taxidermy mounts staring down at eye level, so navigate carefully. Look past the large wall-mounted heads; the weirdest items—loose teeth, 1930s World's Fair ticket stubs, vintage medical manuals—are locked inside the low glass counter cases. The owners are often behind the counter and glad to explain where a piece originated, but double-check their hours online before making the trip, as operating schedules fluctuate.
The move: Browse the jars and bone-strewn shelves together, then sign up for one of their beginner taxidermy classes to make a piece to take home.
📍 Before you go Inventory turns over constantly; check hours before visiting and ask about class schedules.
- 📍 Andersonville
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 1513 W Foster Ave, Chicago, IL 60640
Hours: Added 2026-06-23 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Chicago Magic Lounge — Walk two blocks down Foster Avenue to step through a fake laundromat facade into an Art Deco speakeasy where magicians perform close-up tricks at your table.
- Alchemy Arts — Head less than a mile north into Edgewater to swap preserved biological specimens for raw herbs, ritual oils, and occult books at Chicago's oldest metaphysical shop.
- Lightwriters Neon — Head south into Ravenswood to trade taxidermy and bones for glowing gas, where you can learn the physical craft of bending neon glass tubes.
Good to know
How did Woolly Mammoth start?
Founders Adam and Skye Rust opened the shop in 2010 after bonding over their inherited collections of human teeth and taking a honeymoon following the historical trail of Vlad the Impaler.
What kind of items do they carry?
Inventory focuses on biological and medical remnants—skulls, taxidermy mounts, jars of preserved animal specimens, dental X-rays, and vintage medical tools—alongside antique ephemera like 1930s World's Fair tickets, maps, and old toys.
Can beginners take the taxidermy classes?
Yes. They host beginner-friendly workshops that teach the basics of skinning, sculpting, and mounting a specimen from start to finish so you walk out with a completed piece.
Do you need an appointment to visit?
No appointment is needed to browse the store during operating hours, though checking current hours before visiting is recommended as opening schedules change.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Atlas Obscura · cultofweird.com · Yelp · columbiachronicle.com · Reddit
last checked: 2026-06-23