Eastern California Museum in Independence, California

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Scott Klinger / Atlas Obscura User Coyote Teeth Dentures- Image Used Courtesy of Eastern California Museum Scott Klinger / Atlas Obscura User Handmade Coyote Teeth Dentures Scott Klinger / Atlas Obscura User Original Pitcher’s Plate from the baseball field at the Manzanar Concentration Camp Scott Klinger / Atlas Obscura User A cross section of ancient Bristlecone Pine Scott Klinger / Atlas Obscura User The museum’s extensive collection of local Paiute and Timbisha baskets and artifacts Scott Klinger / Atlas Obscura User Museum staff, Greta Langhenry, shows visitors the working 1896 Regina Music Box. Such was the position George Washington Hancock found himself in the early part of the twentieth century in Independence, California. In desperate need of dentures and lacking the funds for professional pair from a dentist, George decided to take matters into his own hands.

Melting down the handles of resin toothbrushes and using teeth from the local coyote population, George fashioned himself a remarkable and nightmare inducing set of prosthetic chompers which he wore for years. One can only speculate how popular this made him with other residents of Independence and sadly there are no known pictures of George wearing his coyote canines. Douglas Dyer moved to the area to practice dentistry.

Upon hearing of George and his dentures he sought out George and offered a trade of a professional set of dentures in exchange for this unique dental curiosity. Dyer's death, his widow, Florence donated them to the Eastern California Museum which is where you can find them today. The Eastern California Museum is located less than a mile off Highway 395 in the town of Independence, California.

Tucked idyllically up against the soaring Eastern Sierras,the museum's grounds feature a native plants walk, historical buildings, and mining equipment and house a working narrow-gauge steam locomotive, the Southern Pacific 18. Inside, the small museum features an extensive collection of local Paiute and Timbisha basketry, artifacts, historical photographs other interesting local objects of wonder. The small museum also features an extensive collection of photographs and personal items that belonged to the American citizens of Japanese ancestry that