This house museum is accessible.
This house museum is available for events.
Self-guided tours only.
The International Museum of Surgical Science's mansion was originally built as a single-family residence for Eleanor Robinson Countiss, her husband, and their children. At the lady of the house's request, famed architect Howard Van Doren Shaw designed the mansion to replicate Marie Antoinette’s chateau in Versailles, the Petit Trianon.
MORE INFO ON HOUSE MUSEUM WEBSITE...
International Museum of Surgical Science
1524 North Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610, USA312-642-6502
The International Museum of Surgical Science is the only museum in North America dedicated to the art and science of surgery. Housed in a historic mansion on Lake Shore Drive, four floors of exhibits interpret the ancient and modern healing practices of Eastern and Western civilizations, from acupuncture to X-rays.
Interior
Exterior
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ARCHITECTURAL FEATURES
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INVENTIONS
Heiress to funds accrued from her father’s innovation—the diamond-shaped matchstick—Eleanor Robinson Countiss created products ranging from the first liquid shampoo to a town car produced by Ford. Presently the museum's collections encompass exemplary medical devices, including a perfusion pump invented by pilot Charles Lindbergh.
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RELICS
From trephined skulls and kidney stones to prosthetic limbs and bone grafts, the International Museum of Surgical Science has a vast collection of specimens on view. Visitors can also experience a turn-of-the-century apothecary assembled on site from the remnants of two New York apothecaries.
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FINE ART
Within the rich context of historical murals, prints, and drawings that illustrate medical procedures, the International Museum of Surgical Science dedicates two galleries to contemporary art exploring embodiment and medicine. The museum's artist residency program allows local artists in-depth access to its collection.
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ARCHIVES
Dr. Max Thorek, founder of the International Museum of Surgical Science, donated his collection of original letters and manuscripts written by important contributors to medicine and science. Archival photographs include portraits of prominent physicians; documentation of the mansion’s appearance as a historic home; and Pictorialist compositions by Thorek, also an accomplished early fine art photographer.
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BOOKS
The International Museum of Surgical Science library is the room that best represents the original appearance of the mansion as a residence. Now it contains over 5,000 volumes of medical texts, including significant works from greats such as Vesalius, Frederik Ruysch, and museum founder Dr. Max Thorek.
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HISTORIC FIGURES
The International Museum of Surgical Science celebrates pioneering figures in medical history through artwork—including towering statues in the Hall of Immortals, busts, and portraits—as well as narratives of their discoveries. Visitors can also learn about individuals associated with the historic home, such as architect Howard Van Doren Shaw and heiress Eleanor Robinson Countiss.
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WOMEN
Several of the International Museum of Surgical Science's exhibits focus on medical contributions made by women, such as Florence Nightingale and Marie Curie. The historic mansion is named for the lady of the house, Eleanor Robinson Countiss, because funds from her home building trust financed its construction.
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PARLOR
The museum provides venue space for private events and tours of the salon, where Eleanor Robinson Countiss entertained her illustrious guests. The historic mansion is a unique setting for dinners, cocktail receptions, and meetings.
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GHOSTS
Given its subject matter and collections, the museum attracts visitors with a wide variety of interests. Displays of preserved and dissected human bodies and graphic depictions of surgical procedures inspire guests to contemplate macabre themes such as disease and mortality.
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Interior
image credit: Ryan Robinson/Michael Robinson
Exterior
image credit: Ryan Robinson/Michael Robinson