Andersonville is known for its indie shops, Swedish heritage, and cozy restaurants.
But tucked on Clark Street sits something completely unexpected: Woolly Mammoth Antiques and Oddities.
Step inside and you’ll quickly realize—this is no ordinary antique shop.
Think taxidermy foxes, vintage medical equipment, old circus posters, glass jars of mystery specimens, and shelves of objects you didn’t know existed.
It’s part art gallery, part natural history museum, and part attic of your most eccentric great-uncle.
What You’ll Find Inside
Taxidermy Everywhere
Mounted deer heads and taxidermied raccoons might greet you at the door. But it doesn’t stop there—you’ll see birds, reptiles, and even stranger preserved animals, many arranged with a touch of humor.
Scientific & Medical Relics
From vintage surgical tools to 19th-century anatomy charts, the shop doubles as a crash course in how far medicine has come. Some items are a little spooky, others just fascinating.
Curiosities & Curated Weirdness
Old circus advertisements, antique dolls, faded funeral photos, religious icons, skeleton keys—it’s a rotating collection of the unusual and the uncanny.
Handmade Oddities
Local artists sometimes sell one-of-a-kind creations here, blending old parts with new ideas. You might find jewelry made from bone, shadow boxes filled with insects, or sculptures crafted from salvaged relics.
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The Vibe
Woolly Mammoth is equal parts macabre and playful. One shelf makes you gasp, the next makes you laugh. The owners intentionally blur the line between shop and museum. It’s a place where browsing is half the fun—you’ll find something strange even if you don’t buy a thing.
Visiting Tips
- Location: 1513 W. Foster Ave, in the heart of Andersonville.
- Hours: Usually open daily, but check online before you go—hours can shift.
- Admission: Free to enter, but bring spending money—you never know what you’ll want to take home.
- What to expect: It’s cozy, so weekends can get tight. Give yourself time to explore each corner.
- Photography: Ask before snapping pics—some displays are fragile or on consignment.
Pair It With…
Andersonville is one of Chicago’s most walkable neighborhoods, so plan a full afternoon:
- Grab coffee at The Coffee Studio a block away.
- Lunch or dinner at Hopleaf Bar (famous for Belgian beers and mussels).
- Shopping stroll: Boutiques like Women & Children First bookstore and vintage clothing shops line Clark Street.
Why It’s Worth a Stop
Sure, Chicago has big museums, but Woolly Mammoth offers something you can’t find in a polished gallery: a celebration of the strange and unusual. Visitors leave saying they spent an hour inside and still didn’t see everything. It’s the kind of place you’ll talk about long after you leave.
Have you ever shopped for a two-headed taxidermy duck or a Victorian medical kit? Here, you actually can.
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