The old building that houses the International Museum of Surgical Science https://www.imss.org/ on 1524 Lakeshore Drive in Lincoln Park used to be owned by a rich female philanthropist who was into the Red Cross. So, when she died she left the whole mansion to promoting the art of surgery and there are LOTS of creepy old relics. The rooms are organized by country and seem to be gathering dust. There's old pictures of a guy getting his elephantiasis of the scrote cut off and Egyptian head drilling tools c. 1200. There's even a whole room devoted to the history of glasses with dozens of spectacle cases and eye machinery. It is fascinating and creepy, and the best part is that no one is even in the rooms, so you are free to wander around and exclaim in horror without the watchful eye of the security guard.The pic on the left is from the rotating contemporary exhibit s on display. It is appropriately fascinating and creepy, just like the rest of the museum. The image on the right is from the digital imaging work on the cutting edge of scientific illustration.
Make sure to check out the room of great figures in medicine (above) and the fully detailed apothecary c. 1800 complete with voice over from a dusty pharmacist figurine.
