The Backyard Tourist

A Backyard Tourist Guide to the Art, History, and Humanity of Medicine

By Kelly Klobucher

Chicago is home to some of the world’s greatest museums.

The Art Institute.

The Field Museum.

The Museum of Science and Industry.

But tucked inside a magnificent mansion overlooking Lake Michigan is one of the city’s most unusual—and surprisingly captivating—museums.

The International Museum of Surgical Science isn’t simply about surgery.

It’s about humanity.

It’s about curiosity.

It’s about innovation.

And it’s about the remarkable people who have spent centuries trying to answer one fundamental question:

How do we heal?

As North America’s only museum dedicated entirely to the history of surgery, the museum explores thousands of years of medical advancement through artifacts, art, scientific instruments, and powerful stories of perseverance.

A Mansion Worth Visiting on Its Own

Before you even step inside the galleries, take a moment to admire the building itself.

The museum occupies an elegant lakeside mansion built in 1917 for Eleanor Robinson Countiss. Inspired by the Petit Trianon at Versailles, the Beaux-Arts residence features grand staircases, marble fireplaces, soaring ceilings, and breathtaking views of Lake Michigan.

It’s an unexpected setting for a medical museum—and that’s part of its charm.

The contrast between refined architecture and the fascinating history housed within its walls creates an experience unlike any other museum in Chicago.

Medicine Is a Story of Human Progress

One of the things I appreciated most about the museum is that it doesn’t celebrate surgery simply as a technical achievement.

Instead, it tells the story of humanity’s relentless pursuit of healing.

Visitors travel from ancient civilizations practicing early surgical techniques to modern operating rooms transformed by anesthesia, antibiotics, imaging technology, and minimally invasive procedures.

It’s a reminder that every medical breakthrough we often take for granted today was once considered impossible.

The Art of Healing

The museum isn’t simply filled with surgical instruments.

You’ll also find paintings, sculptures, medical illustrations, rare books, anatomical models, and contemporary art exploring the intersection of medicine, science, ethics, and the human body. The museum intentionally blends art and science to encourage visitors to think not only about how medicine works, but also about what it means to care for another person.

It’s an approach that makes the experience accessible even for visitors with little medical background.

Not Just for Doctors

At first glance, you might assume this museum is intended primarily for physicians or medical students.

It certainly appeals to them.

But it also appeals to anyone fascinated by history.

The exhibits tell stories of innovation, courage, trial and error, and scientific discovery.

You don’t need to understand complex medical procedures to appreciate how dramatically surgery has evolved over the centuries—or to recognize the bravery of patients and physicians who paved the way for modern medicine.

Chicago’s Medical Legacy

Chicago has long been a center for medical education, research, and innovation, making the museum a fitting addition to the city’s cultural landscape.

Founded in 1954 by the International College of Surgeons, the museum continues its mission of educating the public about the history and advancement of surgery while also hosting lectures, rotating exhibitions, and contemporary art installations.

A Museum That Makes You Think

This isn’t a museum you rush through.

Many exhibits prompt visitors to pause and reflect.

How did surgeons operate before anesthesia?

How did doctors understand diseases before microscopes?

How did new discoveries reshape public health?

How have medical ethics evolved?

The museum doesn’t shy away from difficult subjects.

Instead, it encourages thoughtful exploration of both the triumphs and challenges of medical history.

More Than Curiosities

Yes, you’ll encounter fascinating surgical instruments and historic medical equipment.

But this isn’t a cabinet of oddities.

It’s a museum about human ingenuity.

Every instrument represents a problem someone was trying to solve.

Every innovation represents countless hours of observation, experimentation, and compassion.

The result is a museum that leaves visitors with a greater appreciation not only for medicine but for the resilience of the human spirit.

A Backyard Tourist’s Take

One of the joys of being a Backyard Tourist is discovering museums that surprise you.

The International Museum of Surgical Science certainly did.

It would have been easy to dismiss it as a niche museum designed only for healthcare professionals.

Instead, I found a beautifully curated experience that explores one of humanity’s most universal experiences: the desire to heal and be healed.

Whether you’re interested in history, architecture, science, art, or simply enjoy discovering Chicago’s lesser-known treasures, this museum deserves a place on your itinerary.

It may not be the largest museum in the city.

But it just might be one of the most memorable.

Backyard Tourist Tips

Best for: History lovers, healthcare professionals, architecture enthusiasts, curious lifelong learners, and anyone looking for an off-the-beaten-path Chicago museum.

Don’t Miss:

• The elegant historic mansion overlooking Lake Michigan.
• Historic surgical instruments and medical artifacts spanning thousands of years.
• Exhibits exploring the evolution of anesthesia, surgery, and medical innovation.
• Contemporary art exhibitions that connect medicine and the humanities.
• The beautiful Gold Coast neighborhood surrounding the museum.

Backyard Tourist Rating: ★★★★★

Perfect Pairing: Spend the morning at the International Museum of Surgical Science, then stroll through Chicago’s Gold Coast, visit Lincoln Park Zoo, walk along Lake Michigan, or visit the nearby Chicago History Museum for a day exploring two very different chapters of Chicago’s rich cultural history.