You don’t need to be fascinated by the history of medicine to find this unique and wonderful collection of medical-related items from the mid 1800s through the early 1900s captivating. That’s because a trip to this bizarre medical museum in North Carolina is about much more than medicine. It’s about what living in the country in North Carolina was like prior to the inventions of modern medicine.
The rural health museum is comprised of three buildings on two acres and more than 50,000 artifacts from the time period. If you really want to know what life was like way back then, this is the place to do it.
The Country Doctor Museum is located in Bailey, NC, approximately 35 miles to the east of Raleigh. It's a neat and tidy museum, inside and out, and is staffed with friendly, knowledgeable people.
You wouldn't know (until you take a tour and learn the info) that many of the buildings were donated by the families of former doctors in the area. Shown below is a vintage photo of an actual doctor's home office being moved to Bailey. It's now part of the museum and you'll get a chance to walk through it (and other doctor's offices) as you take a tour.
Hats are off to the rural country doctors from the 1800s and early 1900s. The apothecary cabinet below is also on display. It was curated from a former physician's home office and moved to the museum.
There are more than 50,000 artifacts on display that shine some light on the state of rural healthcare during the period. Perhaps the one that creates the most shock and awe in visitors is the iron lung.
Shown here with someone's doll and a travel postcard affixed to the outside for whomever was stuck in this beast, the contraption gives you a real sense that someone spent a great deal of time in it. During your tour, your docent will give you a history on the uses of the iron lung.
Last, but certainly not least, you'll tour the carriage house. For rural doctors, house calls were a must and reliable transportation was of the utmost importance.
The Country Doctor Museum began in 1969 after community members began the hard work of assembling an adequate tribute to health care in rural areas. In 2001, the museum was accepted under the stewardship of the Medical Foundation of East Carolina University. Its managed today as part of the History Collections of Laupus Library.
If you really want to know what life was like living in the country in past centuries in North Carolina, then take a look at the healthcare that was available to those not living in a city. This museum shows you more than just ancient or primitive medical devices, it shows you what life was like in a bygone era in the heart of our state.
The Country Doctor Museum is located approximately 35 miles east of Raleigh. The address is 6642 Peele Rd., Bailey, NC 27807. The museum is open to the public Tuesday through Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tours begin at the top of the hour and last 45-60 minutes; the last tour begins at 3:00 p.m. The cost of admission is $8/adults, $5/seniors (55+), and $4/students (3-17); tax is not included. Find more information on the official website for the Country Doctor Museum.
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