What our clients say:

“A real hidden gem. We visited once and decided immediately we had to get married here. The exhibits and decor are amazing, and they’re very easy to work with.”

“We had our rehearsal dinner there, followed by Drake Hotel for our wedding. The museum was great in letting us host a large rehearsal dinner: museum staff were very friendly and helpful during the event from start to finish even after the event ended without interrupting the event. We received so many compliments from our guests. The museum is in a historical house/small mansion: it is absolutely beautiful and elegant beyond words. Imagine the place with interesting things and displays like tools from a hundred years ago, paintings, old books in book shelves next to the fireplace, sculptures, and a marble staircase as soon as you enter the museum. My husband and I are both in the medical fields: we loved everything in the museum. We are certain you do not need to be in the medical field to enjoy the museum as many kids and guests were wowed by the museum architecture itself and fun things to look at. Plus the museum is on the inner Lake Shore drive overlooking the lake through these beautiful historical windows. We had a great experience there. We highly recommend the place for holding any memorable event.”

“The UIC School of Public Health hosted its annual donor reception at the International Museum of Surgical Science. From the initial inquiry to planning out the logistics all the way to the day of the event, the IMSS staff was extremely helpful and knowledgeable about their space. We absolutely loved being able to utilize the various rooms on the second floor and guests were delighted to explore the rest of the museum as well. A major bonus was having museum volunteers answering guests’ questions about the history of the building and its many interesting galleries. I’d highly recommend anyone looking to host a unique event in a beautiful, renowned place and excellent service, to consider the IMSS.”

Heather Aguilar
Associate Director of Alumni Relations Office of Advancement
School of Public Health, The University of Illinois at Chicago

“We loved hosting our wedding at the Surgical Science Museum! The ambiance in the space in the evening is magical and felt very welcoming. Our guests loved having access to the entire museum to explore throughout the evening–so many people commented that it was one of the most unique wedding locations they had ever been to!”

“The Society of Architectural Historians hosted a series of lectures in the fall at the International Museum of Surgical Science.  We had planned to host these at our own headquarters, but due to water damage from a flood, we had to quickly find a venue to relocate these lectures.  The Museum was quick to respond and graciously accommodated three (3) evening lectures for approximately 40 attendees, with their 2nd-floor lecture room, along with the needed audio/visual equipment.  The lecture room we used, adjacent to the Library, was perfect for these events and the brief reception we hosted prior to each lecture. We were grateful that the Museum was able to share their historic building with us!”

Anne Bird
Director of Membership
Society of Architectural Historians

“While the IMSS isn’t necessarily built to host a wedding reception, we knew it was the perfect venue for our masquerade-themed Halloween reception. It did not disappoint! The Event Manager was amazing in the planning process, and super accommodating to all of our crazy requests. The museum is beautiful and such a unique place to host an event; our guests were thrilled to be able to wander around all four floors for the evening. I couldn’t be happier with our decision to celebrate here and to contribute funds to keep the museum going!”

“When planning our Chicago book event, it was important to us to choose a venue that was truly unique to the city. The International Museum of Surgical Science was an ideal fit–their space is absolutely stunning and their collection is incredible. The Hall of Immortals was a dramatic and impactful setting for our presentation and our guests were thrilled by the opportunity to explore the museum after hours. Throughout the planning process, IMSS’s staff were communicative and accommodating and worked closely with us to develop a special program for the night and create a memorable experience for our guests. We were thoroughly impressed by the curator’s intelligent and engaging presentation of materials from the museum’s collection and the event manager’s knowledge of the landmarked building’s history. The event was a great success for our company and our guests and we highly recommend working with the International Museum of Surgical Science! You won’t find a more beautiful, historical and unique venue to work with and the fact that they are so personable and accommodating is just the icing on the cake!”

Megan Roberts
Director of Events
Atlas Obscura

“The space is spectacular. Where else are you going to get married downtown Chicago in a 19th-century mansion on lake Michigan for as little as they charge? Truly a hidden gem. Plus the historical artifacts made it all the more memorable!”

To schedule a site visit please contact our team at info@imss.org.