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“Not for the squeamish”
This small museum on Lake Shore Drive is the perfect size, specific enough to be fascinating, but not too large and overwhelming that museum-fatigue sets in. The museum is a strange but effective mix of scientific and surgical ephemera, and art based on the body. There are iron lungs, old-school surgical equipment, technical analysis of viruses and infectious diseases, plasticized circulatory systems (a la ‘Body World’) and enormous cringe inducing gallstones. The museum also features a hall of larger-than-life sculptures which commemorate pioneers in medicine and surgery from ancient Egyptian times to the present. Additionally, the museum hosts contemporary artists-in-residence who create works about science and the body, inspired by the holdings of the museum. WARNING: This is not a museum for the squeamish, unless you think you can stomach seeing a plasticized body cut into one inch slices and spread the length of a room, you should steer clear. (Like that one scene with the horse from the movie The Cell, with J-Lo)
It's a majestic looking building on the waterfront, which seems oddly residential in character. Tickets were fairly pricey (and I would note that their discounts were for fairly standard things,... Read more
This is certainly a niche museum, but if you have an appreciation for science or medicine, you'll have a great time visiting this museum! I appreciate that they participate in Museums for All,... Read more
Being a science/medical nerd, I had to fit this into my itinerary during my week-long visit in Chicago. This was a little out-of-the-way, so my husband and I rented a car for the day to visit this... Read more
International Museum of Surgical Science
Hours
- Mon - Fri: 9:30 am - 5:00 pm
- Sun, Sat: 10:00 am - 5:00 pm
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Pets Allowed
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Wheelchair Accessible
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Credit Cards Accepted
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Outdoor Seating
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