Surgeons’ Hall Museums
Address: Nicolson Street, Edinburgh, EH8 9DW
The three fascinating museums that make up Surgeons’ Hall Museums are run by The Royal College of Surgeons of Edinburgh. They are: The Wohl Pathology Museum, The History of Surgery and The Dental Collection. The Royal College of Surgeons has an amazing collection of medical items, which dates back to 1505. Originally, the items were displayed for teaching purposes, but they have been on public view since 1832. They are now exhibited at Surgeons’ Hall, a 19th century grade A listed building on Nicolson Street, making up one of Scotland’s oldest museum collections.
The museums reopened in September 2015, after a £4.2 million makeover. A lift was fitted and the exhibitions were refurbished, allowing for twice the number of items to be put on display. Sharing the story of surgery and its advances, using the museums’ fascinating collection of medical specimens, alongside new interactive content, film and user-friendly signage.
5 things to do at Surgeon’s Hall Museums
- Visit the Wohl Pathology Museum. This is on the top floor of the building. Learn about the origins of medical collections from 16th century cabinets of curiosity and see how specimens are prepared and preserved.
- Find out about the role of Women in Surgery and the Edinburgh Seven, as well as how warfare changed the landscape of military surgery.
- Visit the History of Surgery Museum. This museum explores Edinburgh’s contribution to modern surgical practice. It focuses on important dates and people in Scotland’s medical history.
- Learn about forensics in Edinburgh, view some of the museums oldest specimens, and discover more about the infamous bodysnatchers Burke and Hare, and Joseph Bell, the inspiration behind Arthur Conan Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes.
- See the Dental Collection, one of the best dental collections in the UK. It shows the development of dentistry from its origins to present day. The exhibition includes artefacts such as dental instruments, prints, paintings, engravings and models. It also has a reconstructed 19th century dentist’s office.
