indiana medical history museum

This was a fun and interesting museum. What it lacked in depth it made up for in authenticity as an example of public health facilities of the early 20th Century. 45 minute tours begin on the hour, so it's a 1 hour stop. Well worth it.

I have visited here a couple of times and always learn or seeing something new. This museum gives a great history of pathology, psychiatry and general medical history form the late 1800's through the 1960's. Located on the old campus of the Central State Insane Asylum, so there is a lot of history there for treatment of the mentally ill. One of the best parts is the tour guide. We had a great one named Linda. Her knowledge was expansive and gave some great facts on the grounds as well as the museum. I highly recommend making a stop here if you are at all interested in medical history. The preserved anatomical specimens are incredible!

I had been wanting to go for a long time and finally had free time. It's a bit out of the way on the former State Hospital campus; most of the buildings have been demolished. Because it is on the site of the former mental institution, it covers a lot of psychiatry/neurology. But it is a great overview of what medicine was like and how it has grown through the decades/centuries.I am a registered nurse (specialty is neurology) so it was fascinating to me from that aspect. But it's great for those who love history (my first degree), biological sciences, unusual artifacts, and just those filled with curiosity.In the summer/fall, there are herbal garden tours and even an occasional lesson on homeopathy. The docents give a tour of every inch of the two buildings and have excellent knowledge base on what they are showing. It was surprising how advanced medicine was at the State Hospital for the time period. In fact, it was so fascinating, we offered our son a visit as part of his birthday gift which he immediately accepted. He is a medical student and also was amazed by what he discovered about the "old days" and how much they knew.It's not for everyone but our family loved it. I probably would wait until my children were 9-10 years old, depending on their maturity.

Im a nurse, so I had to check this place out during our last trip to Indi. It was a bit hard to find but well worth the time. We went on the garden tour first which I found to be really interesting. The woman who guided it was very knowledgeable. The museum itself is so neat. There is just a ton of fascinating history on site. If you have any interest in medical history, this is a must see.

This museum is located on the site of an old insane asylum. It is the old pathology laboratory building. It was considered "state of the art" in its time. I especially enjoyed the old chemistry and microbiology labs, pathology teaching amphitheater, autopsy room and specimens of brains and other organs.The docent providing the tour was very knowledgeable and friendly. The tour lasts for about an hour.

I came upon the medical museum and was very surprised. The tours were wonderful and so many well preserved artifacts. They should let the public be aware of this. A lot of people I have talked to didn't even know such a place existed.

I had been interested in the history of Central State Asylum for years and came across the IMHM and originally wanted to go because it was on Central State grounds. It was one of the most interesting places ive been. One of the best tours ive had! I have been back several times!

Some time ago I was asked to give a talk at this museum and after living in Indianapolis my entire life I'd not only never been there but had never heard of it! Anyway it's a fascinating place that among other things offers a recreation of a 19th/ early 20th century medical school lecture hall. The docents were charming and wonderful. I wouldn't recommend the place for a toddlers but you can imagine a middle schooler's excitement at row after row of preserved brains (among many other things)!

Family on a visit from the UK. What an amazing place. Even if your not in the medical profession (we aren't) this is a must see whilst in Indi. We did the tour with some nursing students so also got to see the demi heads which are locked away in a cupboard. Tour takes less than a couple of hours but not open all the time

This apparently is a place not a lot of people - even residents of Indianapolis have heard of. But if you have any interest at all in science you have to see this. It was one of the only remaining buildings from a facility for the mentally handicapped. When these types of facilities were decommissioned in the 70's most of the buildings were torn down (unfortunately because pictures of the original buildings were beautiful) The building remaining contained a lecture hall, a room for autopsies, a number of labs. The amazing part is things were basically left as is -- as if they closed the door one day and didn't return. The original fixtures, furniture, lab items AND the collection of autopsied brains showing varying degrees of tumors and disorders. The history of the place is absolutely fascinating .

We were visiting family in Indianapolis and I came upon this museum on trip advisor. They have lived there 10 years and had never heard of it, but were willing to try it out. My husband and I are both science geeks. This was one of the best museums I have been to in a long time. They have brains with tumors in jars! That is enough said for me. Actually this building was built to work with the insane asylum. They were to be the main research facility and they were looking for an actual medical reason for the mental health problems. The doctor and architecture that designed the building had amazing vision. Every room yielded a new cool layout or way of doing something that we do in modern day. For example, they had one of the first cold drinking fountains. It was designed so that a block of ice would be placed in the back and as it melted during the day there would be cold water available for people to drink. How cool is that!There are stairs to climb and it is such and old building that it does not have an elevator.It is not open every day, so it would be best to check the website before heading over. It is in a kind of remote area of town. The houses that surround the property are lower middle class, but it is part of a 180 acre section that was once part of the asylum. (unfortunately most of the buildings have been torn down or have too many problems to use anymore) There is a small entrance fee that goes toward the upkeep of the museum. It is all privately funded.If any kind of medical history interests you, this is well worth the trip. The tour lasted about an hour and then there was time to look around the library area for a little longer.

This is an obscure museum that many Indy residents don't even know about, but we've traveled all over the country and this place is a gem! A docent takes you on a guided tour, 1- 1 1/2 hours. Don't be afraid to ask a couple of questions, they're full of fascinating little stories and tidbits that aren't part of their regular talking points. This is the Pathology building for the "insane asylum" that was built in 1896 and operated into the 60's. It also served as a teaching venue for future doctors, where they performed and demonstrated autopsies in the classroom that is straight out of old 1800's pictures you've seen. Fascinating collection of brain and organ slides on display with various, visible maladies, such as brain tumors, hemorrhage, syphilis, etc, etc... Might be intense or macabre for the squeamish, but if you're into it, go, go, go! Definitely worth your time. Price is modest- they receive no government funding. Hours are limited, so check their web page, before-hand.

This is a jewel of an unusual museum little known by many but very deserving of a look by those interested in the mental health field. My tour guide was knowledgeable, friendly, well-versed about the interesting exhibits and she passed along many human interest stories about the researchers and scientists who had worked and studied there in an era past. The museum is a bit isolated but well worth the effort of a short car trip from the center of Indianapolis. For me, this visit was an adventure of learning and entertainment. This is a unique museum of medical history and a real treat !

If you are interested at all in medical history this is a must visit. The amphitheater classroom used to observe surgeries is intact. There is a collection of preserved human organs including brains, lungs etc. from people of all ages. The guides know their business, and even though it sounds a little 'macabre', it allows one to understand what and how a surgeon learned his or her practice in years past.

Very educational visit here to this historical medical museum built in 1895 specializing in helping the mentally insane. We saw a pathology lab with iron lung, a lot of brain specimens preserved under glass, learned a lot about the historyof medicine.This lovely building is located on the dilapidated grounds, where the Central Indiana Hospital for the insane used to be. Cost was $6.00 per personTakes approximately 1 hour. Would not bring young children here. Maybe 16years and older.