Medical History Museum

Click here for a video tour of our Medical History Museum Tour.

The Medical History Museum is open Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for general viewing. Guided tours or Children's Educational Interactive Tours may be arranged by call 755-0772. These tours have been formatted for second and third grade students at this time. We plan to expand to other grade levels as our volunteer docent program grows.

Download/View the Medical History Museum Brochure

Explore medical history.

The Museum of Medical History at Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System offers a rare and interesting look at the evolution of medicine and medical equipment over the past three centuries. Displays are artfully organized and explained through informative, easy-to-read text and recorded narration. At this unique museum, you’ll discover antique and obsolete medical instruments and equipment dating back as far as the 1700s, memorabilia and various items that were used in local hospitals during the past 100 years.

The museum is free and open to the public. Self-guided tours, guided tours for adults and groups, and a special interactive program for second and third grade students are available. The programs and the museum are sponsored by Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Volunteer Service League, and the Volunteer Services Department and Medical Staff of Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System.

Some of the displays you’ll see at the
Museum of Medical History.

Circa 1920 doctor’s office, featuring furniture and instruments used to perform a tonsillectomy.

Surgery case complete with an operating table owned by Dr. Henry Murphy, John Steinbeck’s family doctor. Other larger diagnostic machines are also included.

Two cases of medical items dating from the 1700s to World War I (1918) and including many instruments used during the Civil War.

A display of memorabilia spanning the 50-year history of the Salinas Valley Memorial Hospital Service League, and the nursing profession.

Displays include equipment unique to specialized area of medicine:

Specialty	Sample of items on display
Pharmacy	Circa 1700 decorated medicine jars
Laboratory	A 200-year-old microscope
Family Doctor	House-call bag with the original contents, circa 1920
OB/GYN	Collection of antique birthing forceps used at local hospitals
Surgical	Collections of needles and syringes (before disposables)
Unproven Medicine	Decorated human skull from Nepal used for its spiritual healing powers.