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Chicago, Illinois: International Museum of Surgical Science

15,000 items, including enema syringes, Victorian x-ray-proof underwear, 2,000-year-old trepanned skulls from Peruvian tombs, and a "Hall of the Immortals" with statues. Housed in a creepy mansion.

Address:
1524 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL
Directions:
Along Lake Shore Drive/US Hwy 41, between Burton Place and North Ave.
Hours:
Dec. 2020: Temporarily closed due to Covid-19 (Call to verify) Local health policies may affect hours and access.
Phone:
312-642-6502
Admission:
Adults $15.
RA Rates:
Worth a Detour
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Visitor Tips and News About International Museum of Surgical Science

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Maurice Tillet.

International Museum of Surgical Sciences

At the International Museum of Surgical Sciences -- the life-size bust of Maurice Tillet.

[Darick Maasen, 10/14/2012]

Display of prosthetic limbs.

Museum of Surgical Science

It's amazing -- the museum itself is a lovely old building by Lake Michigan (you can see the lake from the museum). Everywhere there is something odd and wonderful, like the case of fake legs I found, cases of odd Ancient Roman surgery tools, a case of kidney stones, Victorian quackery section with Violet Ray and ether masks...you need at least 2-3 hours to go through the place properly! It's great to go around Halloween too, though I am sure the medical students there thought we were the odd ones!

[Nyx, 11/18/2009]
Museum of Surgical Sciences

Nestled among the luxury high-rises of Chicago's Gold Coast lies the Museum of Surgical Sciences. It houses a fascinating array of instruments, artists' renderings and graphic descriptions of the history of surgery. I became especially squeamish at the sight of their collection of antique gynecological instruments. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. Admission used to be free, but they now charge a nominal entry fee.

[The Peabodys, 02/15/2000]

The International Museum of Surgical Science has a great collection of medical devices to amuse and horrify: 19th century tin enema syringes; Cornelius Solingen's fork for breast amputation (1684); a Shoe Fitter X-Ray machine; Victorian-era X-Ray proof underwear; 2000 year old trepanned skulls recovered from ancient tombs in Peru, and 15,000 other items. 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive


Nearby Offbeat Places

Wall of Bad ArtWall of Bad Art, Chicago, IL - < 1 mi.
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In the region:
Giant Golf Ball and Club, Des Plaines, IL - 17 mi.

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