Located just steps from Chicago's best shopping on North Michigan Avenue, also known as the Magnificent Mile, is the International Museum of Surgical Science, a not-for-profit division of the International College of Surgeons. This is without a doubt one of the most unique museums in Chicago and one where the overly squeamish should think twice about viewing certain exhibits. The museum depicts the contributions to the progress of surgery and its related sciences made around-the-world. It also aims to enrich people's lives by enhancing their appreciation and understanding of the history, development, and advances made in surgery and related disciplines, including health and medicine.
The ongoing exhibits include the Hall of Immortals, which features 12 life-size statues created especially for the museum and includes such greats in the history of medicine as Madame Curie and Hippocrates; Apothecary, the museum's re-created turn-of-the-century American drug store; Polio, complete with its working iron lung machine; Gallstones and Bladder Stones, illustrating the variety, size and shapes of these stones; and Anatomy in the Gallery, which houses art exhibits by area artists on a rotating basis.
Among the newer permanent exhibits are Nursing: The Oldest Art, The Youngest Profession, which chronicles the history of nursing, and Radiology, which illustrates the basic mechanics and history of x-rays.
The building holds interest for architecture buffs as well. Constructed for Eleanor Robinson Countiss (the daughter of a Diamond Match Factory executive) and her family in 1917 by noted Chicago architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, it was designed to follow the historic lines of Le Petit Trianon, situated on the grounds of Versailles in France.
The Countiss family remained the sole owners of the building until 1950, when it was purchased by the International College of Surgeons. The museum opened in 1952, after renovation and time to establish the collection, which today consists of over 7,000 pieces. Among the museum's earliest artifacts are 4,000-year-old trepanned skulls and trepanned tools recovered from ancient tombs in Peru. These tools were used in what was among the first types of surgery performed on humans.
The museum library has more than 5,000 volumes, including first editions, rare books, and archival materials, in addition to reference volumes, biographies, and books about the history of medicine. Visitors may tour the library during regular museum hours, but researchers are asked to make an appointment to use the collection.
For information on school group tours or narrated tours, call (312)642-6502, ext. 3130.
The museum also boasts an expanded gift shop with one-of-a-kind items that make great gifts.
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