The International Museum of Surgical Science is a museum located in the
Gold Coast neighborhood of
Chicago, Illinois
(''City in a Garden''); I Will
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. It is operated by
The International College of Surgeons and features exhibits dealing with various aspects of Eastern and Western medicine. It was founded by
Dr. Max Thorek in 1954. The museum's exhibits are displayed by theme or surgical discipline. Displays include photographs, paintings and drawings, sculpture, medical equipment, skeletons, medical specimens and historic artifacts. The library contains more than 5,000 rare medical texts.
Housed in a 1917 mansion designed by
Howard Van Doren Shaw as a replica of the
Petit Trianon
The Petit Trianon (; French for "small Trianon") is a Neoclassical style château located on the grounds of the Palace of Versailles in Versailles, France. It was built between 1762 and 1768 during the reign of King Louis XV of France. ...
at Versailles, the museum was originally built for Chicago socialite Eleanor Robinson Countiss Whiting who died in 1931. The International College of Surgeons acquired the building in 1950.
In addition to displaying medical artifacts the museum has, since 1998, hosted a number of
contemporary art
Contemporary art is the art of today, produced in the second half of the 20th century or in the 21st century. Contemporary artists work in a globally influenced, culturally diverse, and technologically advancing world. Their art is a dynamic ...
exhibitions in an effort to broaden its appeal to visitors.
In 2010 visitor numbers were at 20,000 a year,
by 2013 this had increased to between 25,000 and 30,000.
See also
*
Visual arts of Chicago
*
The Mütter Museum
*
Gold Coast Historic District
*
Lake Shore Drive
Lake Shore Drive (officially Jean Baptiste Pointe du Sable Lake Shore Drive, and called DuSable Lake Shore Drive, The Outer Drive, The Drive, or LSD) is a multilevel expressway that runs alongside the shoreline of Lake Michigan, and adjacent to ...
References
External links
International Museum of Surgical Science Website
Museums in Chicago
Medical museums in Illinois
Science museums in Illinois
Museums established in 1954
1954 establishments in Illinois
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