The First American Public Mummy Unwrapping

Lee's mummy had the distinction of being the first mummy to be publicly unwrapped in America. This occurred on 14 December 1824, before a small audience at New York City’s Castle Garden. The Philadelphia Gazetteer of 22 December 1824 reported:

"The mummy was on Tuesday opened …it appeared to be wrapped in twenty-six fold [sic] of linen, which by age, had been firmly matted together; but upon placing the knife at the head, and with difficulty cutting a straight line to the feet, the casement was easily separated from the body, which was found to be in a hard, black and perfectly dry state. The bones were hard, the flesh rather soft, the arms, hands and fingers, were in a perfect state, and in a natural position by the side of the body. A large quantity of glutinous substance was found within the body, which on burning was of an agreeable odour. No doubt can now remain that the mummy exhibited, was entombed three thousand years ago; and by the pains taken in embalming it, that it was the body of a female of no inconsiderable importance."