A Civil War amputation kit from the 1860s at the Southern California Medical Museum
There is a place in Pomona where people can travel back in time to see a Civil War amputation kit from the 1860s, an examination room from the early 1900s and an electrocardiogram machine from the 1920s.
Located at the Western University of Health Sciences, the Southern California Medical Museum in Pomona is the only public medical museum in Southern California. Established in 1982, it highlights the history of medicine, dentistry, nursing, veterinary medicine and pharmacy from the 15th century onward.
Collections from the medical museum in Pomona
The collections allow visitors to learn about past and present medical instruments and tools, including pills, shock-producing electrical devices, surgical tools, tooth extractors, historical stethoscopes and special temporary exhibits that change on a regular basis.
Photographs and art
The walls of the museum are decorated with photos of past San Bernardino County Medical Society presidents, including first president William Riley Fox in 1878. Visitors will discover a history of San Bernardino County hospitals in the medical artwork, antique engravings and diplomas. Pottery, sculptures and bronze artwork created by physicians can also be found on display throughout the museum.
Medical library
The Ralph M. Kleinman, M.D. Memorial Medical Library, presented in oak and glass cases in the museum entryway, features medical and surgical volumes spanning nearly two centuries, with books from the early 1600s to today.
The examination room
A life-sized replica of a typical early-20th-century examination room is one of the many highlights of the medical museum in Pomona. A mother and her child visit a doctor, seated at his desk. The room includes typical office equipment from that era such as an examination table, scale, supply cabinet, microscope and a traditional medical bag.
Learn more about the medical museum in Pomona by visiting their website. The museum is located at the corner of Garey and Fourth and is open by appointment only. Generally, appointments can be made Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.
By Emily Williams
