The Indiana Medical History Museum is located in the Old Pathology Building on the grounds of the former Central State Hospital on the near westside of Indianapolis. The museum represents the beginning of scientific psychiatry and modern medicine while the building itself is the oldest surviving pathology facility in the nation and is on the National Register of Historic Places.

     The museum maintains a collection of scientific artifacts from the nineteenth and twentieth centuries in a completely authentic setting. Constructed in 1895 and inaugurated in 1896, the nineteen-room Pathological Department Building, as it was then called, is equipped with three clinical laboratories, a photography lab, teaching amphitheatre, autopsy room, and library.

     Explore this site to learn more about the Indiana Medical History Museum as well as Indiana's medical heritage.  The museum also offers an extensive list of links to other websites relating to medical history, science education and health careers.

 

Latest News

10/31/2012:  The Indiana Medical History Museum is featured in the November issue of Indianapolis Monthly.  Check us out!  There is also a photo gallery on the Indianapolis Monthly website.  Click here to view the gallery.

10/18/2012: The Indiana Medical History Museum will be closed between Thursday, November 22nd and Saturday, November 24th to observe the Thanksgiving holiday.  The museum's winter hours are from 10am to 4pm on Saturdays only (last tour beginning at 3pm) between December 5th and January 9th.  We will have limited availability for pre-scheduled group tours Wednesdays through Fridays during that time.

8/31/2012:  Registration is now open for our 8th annual Wizards Academy!  Click here for more information or to register.

8/8/2012: Much to our regret, these difficult economic times have made it necessary for us to increase our admission prices. Effective 9/15/2012 our prices will be as follows: $7 for adults, $6 for AAA or AARP members; $5 for university students with a valid ID, $3 for children under 18, and $5.50 for scouts (includes badge.)

7/5/2012: Now through July 21st, IMHM is collecting donations of school supplies for the Indy Back Pack Attack!  You can drop off supplies anytime during our regular business hours. 

6/25/2012: Once again, the Indiana Medical History Museum has been nominated for BEST MUSEUM on the Indy A-List.  Help make us #1 this year!  Vote for us at ctvr.us/imhm!

6/21/2012: There are still seats available for this evening's lecture, A Bridge Between Centuries:  Central State Hospital and Medical Education in Indiana to 1910.  To reserve a seat, RSVP to education@imhm.org or call 317-635-7329.

5/30/2012: The Indiana Medical History Museum, the Herb Society of Central Indiana, and the Purdue Master Gardeners of the Indiana Medical History Museum Medicinal Plant Garden will be hosting A Garden Tea at the Indiana Medical History Museum as a biennial event.  The next A Garden Tea will be held in June of 2013.  Stay tuned for more information!

1/18/2012:  News spreads about brain tissue in the IMHM collection.  see links!

12/7/2011:  Brain tissue in the IMHM collection used to advance modern medicine.  read more

10/20/2011: The IMHM Medicinal Plant Garden receives award at International Master Gardener Conference. read more

10/14/2011:  From November 2nd through November 26th, IMHM will be collecting donations of canned goods to benefit Gleaners Food Bank.  Donations can be dropped off during regular business hours.

9/1/2011:  Please note that beginning September 1, 2011, the Indiana Medical History Museum will be offering tours only on the hour and half hour, with the last tour starting at 3pm.

8/31/2011:  Check us out in the September/October issue of Indiana Gardening!   http://www.statebystategardening.com/in

8/11/2011:  Registration is now open for our 7th Annual Wizards Academy on Sunday, October 23rd from 2:00 to 4:00pm.  Click here to register.