Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical History Museum

Located in the eastern section of Sacramento,

was a nondescript building that you wouldn't think twice to look at...

The Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical History Museum is a free museum which showcases development in Medical technology with special attention paid to the region's medical pioneers. There are medical artifacts, antique instruments, a library, and even a working iron lung!

Let's go in shall we? Plus, free.



As you walk in, there are glass cases filled with various medical curiosities and devices. To your right will be the museum. The day of our visit, there were a docent (a retired doctor) who was enthusiastically explaining the working of the iron lung to a visiting group.

Check out this old ominous polio poster. That shit was serious back then.

There is a fake body in the iron lung and yes, this still works!



When I see the iron lung, I think of this scene from the John Waters' classic, "Crybaby" featuring a post -"21 Jumpstreet" Johnny Depp.  This is the court room scene where Crybaby is in court with his juvenile delinquent friends. Hatchet Face's mom is the one in the iron lung in this funny scene:

"Aw, Christ! Now I got a flat tire!"

There's even an iron lung reference in Sponge Bob Squarepants:

Not too PC.

Notice both video clips have the iron lung victim with a mirror in front of them.

There's even a few people left in this world that depend on an iron lung, like this guy!

What an amazing story especially since he finished his education and even became a lawyer.

Here's some of what the glass cases held:






As you can see, there were lots of interesting items in those cases especially those fake eyes. I liked learning that poison bottles were of colored glass and textured to remind people that there was poison inside.

Local medical factoids:

Amputation with a rusty saw anyone?

Bed pans and chamber pots!

Wow, bleeding tools and cup!

More amputation fun:

There was so much to see.  If you hate reading placards, then this isn't the place for you.


Now THIS.



So tiny!

Vintage mannequin used to train nursing students:


Here's a short video the local news made about the museum:

Who else went here?
Joshua from California Through My Lens posted his vist a few years ago; in fact it was his post that made me want to visit

Sierra Sacramento Valley Medical History Museum
5380 Elvas Ave, Suite  100
Sacramento, CA 95819
(916) 452-2671

www.ssvms.org/museum + reviews from that four lettered site

Of the many different museums we've visited over the years, this was definitely one of the most informative ones! It was cool listening in on the docent's stories as he gave his tour to his group of visits. Bert and I got to chatting with him later and were fascinated by his many life stories.  There was another docent, a retired nurse who was very helpful.

Up next...lunch. Finally.