Second Saturday at the Museum of Medical History

The Museum of Medical History will be open the second Saturdays of the month, April-September, 2026. Reservations are not needed.

The museum is open 10 AM-4 PM and offers free admission to the public.

The Museum of Medical History of the Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical Society showcases developments in medicine with a special relationship to our region, from the mid-1800‘s through today. The Museum is organized by various themes: patent medicines and pharmacology, basic science and laboratory medicine, antibiotics and infectious diseases, medical diagnosis and therapy, surgical diagnosis and therapy, nursing, Asian medicine, radiology, quackery and local medical history.

A variety of larger artifacts are also displayed including a turn-of-the-century doctor’s office diorama, a functioning 1950-era iron lung, Civil War amputation kits, and a variety of medical art. You’ll also find an array of classical 19th century instruments including cups, various tools for bleeding, ether masks and medicines with mercury, arsenic and strychnine.

The Museum of Medical History is also home to an extensive library containing early medical textbooks and journals.