The International Museum of Surgical Science: From anesthesia to zinc
The name alone sounds intense, but surgical science has been the backbone to both Eastern and Western medicine for thousands of years. Tucked away on Lake Shore Drive, the inconspicuous International Museum of Surgical Science, a four-floored former mansion, educates visitors on everything from pharmacogenomics (genetics and drugs) to the history of anesthesia.
In conjunction with the College of Surgeons next door, the museum’s mission is “to enrich people’s lives by enhancing their appreciation and understand of history, development, and advances of surgery and related subjects in health and medicine,” which it is does so in an informative way.
The “international” in the title alludes to how not only countries like the United States have helped with the evolution of medicine. Spain, Canada, Japan and Latin America all have featured exhibits noting their most innovative physicians.
On the first floor, visit the apothecary to get an audio tour on how pills were made in the 1800s. Climbing up to the second floor, medieval hospital oil paintings align the wall. See an original iron lung and learn about the effects polio had on people. The Hall of Immortals contains life-sized statues of famous physicians throughout time including Imhotep, the first known physician tracing back to 2700 B.C in Egypt, and The Father of Medicine, Hippocrates.
The third floor focuses more on the international with exhibits from Europe and Japan and has x-rays on display. The fourth floor offers the best view of the lake across the street and shows exhibits on nursing, the story of prosthetics and cardiovascular surgery.
Guided tours, special monthly events, and membership are all available as are school field trips.
HelloChicago Tip: Parking is $9 with museum validation at any of four locations: 1600 N. Lake Shore Drive (North Avenue Beach), 1601 N. Clark St. (Chicago History Museum), 1350 N. Lake Shore Drive, and 1445 N. State Parkway.
Posted on Mar 17, 2011 by Garin Pirnia
