The Atlas Obscura Podcast The World’s Largest Collection of Two-Headed Calves
Aug 14, 2025
Henry S. Rosenthal, the owner of the world's largest collection of two-headed taxidermied calves in San Francisco and a drummer from the punk band Crime, shares his fascinating journey. He discusses the life of Lucky, a two-headed calf that inspired his collection, and the personal stories behind each unique specimen. The conversation touches on the emotional connections people form with oddities and the vibrant cultural scene in San Francisco, exploring how curiosity drives art and preservation while balancing the joy and sadness surrounding these rare creatures.
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Lucky: The Longest-Lived Two-Headed Calf
- Lucky, a two-headed calf born in Kentucky, survived 108 days, the longest recorded for such a calf.
- She lived as a pet, slept in the family's basement, and died a week before a planned surgery.
A Curated, Multi-Angle Collection
- Henry S. Rosenthal curated about 50 two-headed cattle specimens and related artifacts in a single-room museum.
- He fills the collection with full mounts, skulls, postcards, and ephemera to present the phenomenon from multiple angles.
How The Collection Began
- Henry discovered his first two-headed calf in 1979 after spotting one in a Berkeley junk shop.
- That first specimen, mounted in 1905, launched a decades-long collecting habit.
