The region’s only museum dedicated to footwear celebrates five decades of visitors stepping into history.
Andrew Meyr, curator of the Shoe Museum at Temple University’s School of Podiatric Medicine, has worked to transform the collection as the exhibit celebrates 50 years.
Photo by Matt Petrillo
Pointing to a pair of oversized bright green sneakers worn by the Phillies Phanatic, Andrew Meyr, a podiatric professor and surgeon at Temple University’s School of Podiatric Medicine, can’t help but smile.
“He's the greatest mascot to ever exist,” Meyr said. “I did the math, and he theoretically wears a size 30 shoe.”
The Phanatic’s iconic footwear, generously donated by the Philadelphia Phillies, is one of the many eye-catching artifacts inside the aptly named Shoe Museum, which, this year, is celebrating its 50th anniversary.
Located in the School of Podiatric Medicine, the museum was created in 1976 as Philadelphia marked the nation’s bicentennial.
Since then, the museum has spent five decades preserving the history, science and culture of footwear.
“It’s important that people learn about the foot and ankle, and this exhibit is really about the anatomy and physiology of shoes, where we break down how shoes are made and how they support our health,” said Meyr, the museum’s curator.
It’s also Philadelphia's only museum dedicated to shoes, said Meyr.
“Shoes have developed, of course, as a tool to help out our species, and they have evolved into many different functions and many different forms throughout the world for many different purposes,” he said.
Over the years, the museum has also grown into one of the most peculiar free museums in Philadelphia: From gold spray-painted sneakers worn by Philadelphia Mummers to pastel pink high heels once donned by a former first lady and Egyptian sandals dating back more than 2,000 years, the collection simultaneously tells the stories of culture, fashion and history one step at a time.
“We focus a lot of our exhibits on the form and function of shoes,” he said.
The museum displays more than 1,000 shoes that it rotates from its collection, which includes another 2,000 that are in storage.
“People sometimes believe they have an interesting shoe, so we’ll get sent some old shoes from time to time. But we’re selective about the shoes we put on display,” Mery said.
While the shoes that are displayed may change , the museum’s mission of bringing awareness to podiatric medicine and surgery stays the same.
Students in the School of Podiatric Medicine also utilize the collection to learn about the history of footwear and foot health.
“An important part of the podiatric curriculum is learning anatomy and physiology,” he said.
What’s the best shoe to wear if you’re planning a tour of the museum?
Dr. Meyr smiles again.
“As a foot doctor, I would always recommend a good pair of supportive sneakers,” he said.
Visitors can reserve a self-guided tour Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. online. Groups of 10 or more are asked to contact the museum before visiting. Tours typically take about 30 minutes and feature QR codes that provide audio commentary for each exhibit.
