Please Note: The Museum is closed to the public as of March 16, 2020. A reopening date decision will be determined on a day-to-day basis. Upcoming programming has been cancelled at this time and will be rescheduled at a later date. Some programming will be done virtually, please see below for more info.
*Virtual* IMSS Book Club: The Devil in the White City
Wednesday, April 15, 2020, 5:30PM
Our next meeting will be Wednesday April 15th, 2020. Due to COVID-19, we will be conducting this meeting online! Those who RSVP will receive instructions on how to join.
This time we’re reading The Devil in the White City: Murder, Magic, and Madness at the Fair That Changed America by Erik Larson.
FREE
Anatomy of a Fatality
Postponed: Date TBD
The lecture will discuss samurai combative theory in relation to human anatomy and targets on the body both armored and unarmored. Also discussed will be the philosophies around the concepts of Katsujinken, or the use of the sword to protect life the weak, and Satsujinken, or, using the sword with murderous intent.
$25
Hilary Woods Empty Bottle Concert at IMSS
Postponed: Date TBD
HILARY WOODS’ artistry is one of rare emotive reach. Her minimalist and compositional finesse combine with densely layered atmospheric instrumentation and dreamlike vocals to create music rich with both delicacy and intensity. The Sunday Times hailed her early solo recordings as “a revelation.” 21+
$20
June
OPENING RECEPTION: Mark Gilbert: Portraits in Health Care
Thursday, June 4, 2020, 5:30PM
Since the 1990s, Scottish-born, artist and researcher Mark Gilbert has innovated portraiture. Depicting caregivers’ and patients’ stories and experiences of illness and recovery within clinical, studio, and domestic settings, each portrait expresses intimate collaborations between artist and sitter.
FREE
Registration for most events is required. Get tickets on
Past Programs
Morbid March: Curiosities After Hours Tour
Thursday, March 12, 2020, 5:30PM
From ancient human skulls to bone-saws and bloodletting knives, the International Museum of Surgical Science has one of the most celebrated collections of its kind in the world. On this special after-hours tour, Museum staff will shine a light on some of the darkest tools in the history of medicine! This tour is complemented by highlights from the Museum’s chilling surgical art collection.
A complimentary reception follows the tour and lite fare will be served.
$20, Members $10
Gallery Talk: Women in Medicine
Tuesday, March 10, 2020, 2PM
Inspired by our Women in Medicine app tour, at this month’s gallery talk visitors will learn about some significant women from the history of medicine.
Tickets to the Museum required for entrance to gallery talks.
Free with admission
IMSS Book Club: Reading Between the Spines
Wednesday, March 4, 2020, 5:30PM
The Radium Girls: The Dark Story of America’s Shining Women
Written with a sparkling voice and breakneck pace, The Radium Girls fully illuminates the inspiring young women exposed to the “wonder” substance of radium, and their awe-inspiring strength in the face of almost impossible circumstances. Their courage and tenacity led to life-changing regulations, research into nuclear bombing, and ultimately saved hundreds of thousands of lives…
FREE
Pop-Up Amputation Demonstration
Sunday, March 1, 2020, 2PM
Visitors will learn about Civil War era amputations and watch an interactive demonstration to experience the most common surgery performed before the discovery of anesthesia and germ theory.
Tickets to the Museum required for entrance.
Free with admission
Pop-Up Guided Tour
Saturday, February 29, 2020, 2PM
Enhance your visit to the Museum with a guided tour! Tours meet on the first floor across from the Admissions desk, in the Surgicogenomics gallery. Tour length is approximately 45 minutes and requires guests to summit four flights of stairs. Elevator and accessible entrance is available.
Tickets to the Museum required for entrance.
Free with admission
Gallery Talk: Cardiology
Friday, February 28, 2020, 2PM
At this month’s gallery talk, visitors will learn about some significant moments from the history of cardiology.
Tickets to the Museum required for entrance to gallery talks.
Free with admission
OPENING RECEPTION: Unique Perspectives: Art in Science and Medicine
Thursday, February 27, 2020, 6PM
This exhibition is an opportunity for first and second year BVIS students to display their current works of art that are both beautiful and accurate in scientific detail. These pieces feature a wide array of scientific and medical subjects targeting audiences diverse in education, age, and occupation.
FREE
OPENING RECEPTION: Megan Euker: The Cure
February 21, 2020, 5:30PM
Euker makes use of illustrations and diagrams explaining gene therapy, Sickle Cell Disease, and Beta Thalassemia; documents and articles relating to court cases; and other data sets to present a case of corruption and fault in the world of “Big Pharma.”
FREE
Historic Sex-Ed Presentation
February 19, 2020, 5:30PM
At this special after-hours presentation, Museum staff will shine a light on some of the most interesting beliefs and developments around the globe throughout history in sex-ed topics such as sexual health, human development, and sexual behavior. We’ll touch on STDs, reproduction, sexuality, contraception and more! Snacks provided.
$15
Bryan Northup: Creating with Plastic
February 16, 2020, 2PM
Using single-use plastics collected from our daily lives, participants will discover the possibilities and process of transforming “trash” into artwork worthy of your wall. Artist Bryan Northup, will offer demonstrations of techniques originated in his art practice and give individual guidance on creating a wall relief or small sculpture. Participants will also create a small component to add to a collaborative piece that will be sliced up and shared with participants at the end of class.
Since much of what is created with discarded plastics is dictated by the kinds of raw material collected, each student is encouraged to collect single use plastics (clean and dry) and bring them to class to work with and/or share (optional).
$15
Closing Reception: Bryan Northup: Sea Inside
February 16, 2020, 2PM
Join us for the closing of Sea Inside: Visioning Single-Use Plastic at the Cellular Level, where you will be able to meet and greet with the Artist, Bryan Northup. Free with the price of admission. Museum is located at 1524 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL. Accessible entrance, ramps and elevator are available.
Free with admission
SAIC BODIES: Artist Discussion
February 13, 2020, 5:30PM
Join artists from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC) for a presentation on BODIES: SAIC Intro to Designed Objects.
Doors will open at 5:30 and the program will begin at 6:00. The Museum will remain open until 7:30 for guests to explore other exhibits and mingle with the artists and each other.
FREE
A Valentine’s Special Morbid Curiosities: Surgical History Tour
February 12 & 14, 2020, 5:30PM
From ancient human skulls to bone-saws and bloodletting knives, the International Museum of Surgical Science has one of the most celebrated collections of its kind in the world. On this special after-hours tour, Museum staff will shine a light on some of the darkest tools in the history of medicine! This tour is complemented by highlights from the Museum’s chilling surgical art collection.
A complimentary reception follows the tour and lite fare will be served.
$20, Members $10
Lantern Festival: Lunar New Year Celebration
February 9, 2020, 2PM
The International Museum of Surgical Science is excited to celebrate Lantern Festival on February 9th. This festival is celebrated throughout many Asian cultures and brings families together to celebrate the new year.
Join us on this special day to make your own lantern, eat snacks, drink tea, and celebrate loved ones.
$10, Members Free
Dead of Winter: Morbid Curiosities Tour
January 15 & 30, 2020, 5:30PM
From ancient human skulls to bone-saws and bloodletting knives, the International Museum of Surgical Science has one of the most celebrated collections of its kind in the world. On this special after-hours tour, Museum staff will shine a light on some of the darkest tools in the history of medicine! This tour is complemented by highlights from the Museum’s chilling surgical art collection.
A complimentary reception follows the tour and lite fare will be served.
$20, Members FREE
Interactive Gallery Talk: Amputation
January 28, 2020, 2PM
At this month’s gallery talk, visitors will learn about Civil War era amputations and watch an interactive demonstration to experience the most common surgery performed before the discovery of anesthesia and germ theory.
Tickets to the Museum required for entrance to gallery talks.
Free with admission
IMSS Book Club: Reading Between the Spines
January 22, 2020, 5:30PM
Pandemic 1918: The Story of the Deadliest Influenza in History by Catharine Arnold
Nowhere escaped this common enemy: in Britain, 250,000 people died, in the United States it was 750,000, five times its total military fatalities in the war, while European deaths reached over two million. The numbers are staggering. And yet at the time, news of the danger was suppressed for fear of impacting war-time morale. Even today these figures are shocking to many – the war still hiding this terrifying menace in its shadow.
FREE
Pan•American / Cleared
Empty Bottle Concert at IMSS
January 18, 2020, 7:30PM
Legacy Chicago craftsman and Kranky torchbearer Mark Nelson’s latest offering as PAN•AMERICAN is less a distillation or divergence than it is a return to his musical and spiritual beginnings.
Currently arranging their first record in nearly three years, CLEARED has begun playing once again in 2019 and will continue into the next decade with select performances and the release of new material.
$20
Home for the Holidays: Candlelit Mansion Tour
December 17, 2019, 6PM
Bathed in warm candlelight, this unique exploration of 1524 will delve into the architecture of the space and the lives of its original occupants, who worked, danced, dreamt and died there. Highlights from the IMSS permanent collection will invite guests to layer their experience of the space as a historic dwelling and modern-day Museum – as much enchanted by its elegant past as it is haunted by the morbid curiosities it houses today. A complimentary reception follows the tour and lite fare will be served.
$25, Members & Students $20
Sip & Shop Holiday Fair
December 14, 2019, 12PM
Enjoy complimentary refreshments during our local artist and vendor holiday gift fair! Find the perfect gift for the medical and history lover. The Museum gift shop will feature a holiday sale of 30% off, in store and one day only!
Are you a local artist or vendor? Apply to sell HERE
FREE with Admission
IMSS Book Club: Reading Between the Spines
December 11, 2019, 5:30PM
Medicine in the Days of the Pharaohs: Bruno Halioua and Bernard Ziskind provide a comprehensive account of pharaonic medicine that is illuminated by what modern science has discovered about the lives (and deaths) of people from all walks of life–farmers, fishermen, miners, soldiers, scribes and priests, embalmers, construction workers, bakers, prostitutes.
FREE
Empty Bottle Presents: Burial Hex / NIKA (Zola Jesus) / Bloodyminded
November 23, 2019, 7:30PM
Join us for a unique concert experience at the International Museum of Surgical Science, presented by concert venue Empty Bottle. Featured performers include BURIAL HEX, NIKA (Zola Jesus), & BLOODYMINDED
7:30PM // $20 // 17+ [sold out]
Lunchtime Lecture: Joint Pain & New Technology with Vasili Karas, Md, Ms
November 21, 2019, 11:30AM
Join us as we host Vasili Karas, Md, Ms and Stryker Education for a free seminar on understanding the arthritis of the knee and new technologies in knee replacement. Lunch will be provided, with raffle prizes and gift bags for all attendees!
FREE, RSVP required, space limited.
memento mori: [muh-men-toh mawr-ahy, mohr-ahy, mawr-ee, mohr-ee; Latin me-men-toh moh-ree] noun.
1. Latin. remember that you must die.
2. an object, as a skull, serving as a reminder of death or mortality.
MEMENTO MORI Halloween Gala
October 31, 2019, 7-11PM
The International Museum of Surgical Science cordially invites you to our second annual MEMENTO MORI gala fundraiser. Join us for a haunted evening at the best Halloween party of the year at 7 PM at 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive. Guests will receive the exclusive pass to celebrate Halloween among the Museum’s surgical collections, artworks and antique medical texts. This evening includes an array of offerings to make sure you won’t be bored to death.
Dress the part, and join us in our galleries for a macabre evening with cocktails, bites and an exciting program of art and surgery!
Buy your tickets early to secure your spot! Early bird pricing is available.
$50-$75
Haunted House: Candlelit Mansion Tour
October 29, 2019, 6PM
Bathed in warm candlelight, this unique exploration of 1524 will delve into the architecture of the space and the lives of its original occupants, who worked, danced, dreamt and died there. Highlights from the IMSS permanent collection will invite guests to layer their experience of the space as a historic dwelling and modern-day Museum – as much enchanted by its elegant past as it is haunted by the morbid curiosities it houses today. A complimentary reception follows the tour and lite fare will be served.
$30, Member’s $20 [sold out]
This program is in association with the exhibition, Plant Medicine.
Plant Medicine Exhibit: Lunchtime Tour with the Researchers
October 26, 2019, 12PM
Join us at the International Museum of Surgical Science for an intimate tour of the exhibition Plant Medicine: Multi-Species Wellness in a Global City, led by the researchers and curators of the project.
Free with the price of admission.
DOPAMINE with Jeanette Andrews
October 24, 2019, 6:30PM
Join us as we welcome the return of master illusionist, Jeanette Andrews, in the grand Hall of Immortals at the International Museum of Surgical Science.
Read about Jeanette’s performance in the Chicago Reader!
Read about Jeanette’s performance in Chicago Magazine!
$50, Member’s $30
Northwest Noggin (Northwest Neuroscience Outreach Group) is a robust, creative, volunteer driven non-profit organization that brings scientists and artists and students of all ages together to contribute their expertise, listen and learn from others, enthuse young people about science and art, share area educational resources, and inform and excite the public about ongoing, taxpayer supported neuroscience research.
NW Noggin @ IMSS
October 18, 2019, 1-3PM
NW Noggin visits the International Museum of Surgical Science to host brain activities and art making for all ages! Join us in the Hall of Immortals for this Noggin program. Confirmed participants include: Bill Griesar, PSU/OHSU/NW Noggin, Jeff Leake, PSU/NW Noggin, Aaron Manakai Eisen, PSU/NUNM/NW Noggin, Cam Howard, PSU/NW Noggin, Albert (Sai) Kiersarsky, PSU, Mikah Brandes, PSU/NIH BUILD EXITO, Madison Cho-Richmond, PSU, Maria Galvan-Bravo, PSU, Anita Randolph, OHSU/BEADS, Rachel Lukowicz, University of Oregon, Leigh-Jane Wilson, Kings College London, Richard Wingate, Kings College London
FREE with admission
Trick or Treat? Morbid Curiosities After Hours Tour
October 16 & 17, 2019, 5:30PM
From ancient human skulls to bone-saws and bloodletting knives, the International Museum of Surgical Science has one of the most celebrated collections of its kind in the world. On this special after-hours tour, Museum staff will shine a light on some of the darkest tools in the history of medicine! A complimentary reception follows the tour and lite fare will be served.
$30, Member’s $20
Presented by Molly Doane, Associate Professor of Anthropology, Associate Head/Director of Undergraduate Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago. This program is in association with the exhibition, Plant Medicine.
Lunchtime Lecture: Chicago’s Beekeepers
October 16, 2019, 12PM
Cities like Chicago are increasingly becoming safe havens for honeybees. Come learn about the importance of urban honey bees and how they can be nurtured in the city. In this talk, beekeepers Barbara Ryan and Pedro Ortiz will take us through the basics of beekeeping, discuss the challenges facing honeybees, and some of the possible solutions to be found within our own neighborhoods.
Barbara Ryan and Pedro Ortiz are backyard beekeepers in Rogers Park, Chicago. Pedro is originally from Guatemala; Barbara is a lifelong Chicagoan. They produce and sell honey, teach and about beekeeping and mentor aspiring beekeepers. They are frequent travelers, and take the opportunity to visit beekeepers in foreign locales.
Free with the price of admission.
Celebrate the Halloween season by attending a Family Festival at the International Museum of Surgical Science!
Fall Family Festival
October 12, 2019, 10AM-5PM
Have you ever imagined what it was like to be a doctor during the Civil War? Or wondered how X-rays were first discovered? Come find out at the International Museum of Surgical Science’s family festival! Explore, see, touch, make, and move at the Museum with your family.
Activities will be available in rooms all throughout the four floors of the Museum. At check-in you will receive an activity floor map and schedule to plan your surgical adventure! Each child will receive a gift to take home.
Kids Under 13 Free, 14-18 $5, Adults $10
Read more about this exhibit: https://imss.org/im-building-me-a-home/
OPENING RECEPTION: Namir Fearce: “I’m Building Me a Home”
October 4, 2019, 5:30PM
Join us for the opening reception of Fall 2019 Artist in Residence Namir Fearce’s Capstone Exhibition, “I’m Building Me a Home.” Free and open to the public. Beverages provided by our sponsors; alcohol served to 21+. Museum is located at 1524 N Lake Shore Drive, Chicago IL. Accessible entrance, ramps and elevator are available.
FREE
HistMed Lecture Series:“Between Art and Anatomy: Leonardo da Vinci and Marco Antonio dalla Torre.”
September 27, 2019, 12PM
Join us for a lunchtime lecture on The History of Anatomy with Daniele Macuglia, Ph.D. of The University of Chicago as a part of our #HistMed Lecture Series.
Free with the price of admission.
A Night at 1524: Candlelit Mansion Tour
September 19, 2019, 6PM
Bathed in warm candlelight, this unique exploration of 1524 will delve into the architecture of the space and the lives of its original occupants, who worked, danced, dreamt and died there. A complimentary reception follows the tour and lite fare will be served.
$20, Member’s $10
Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration
September 15, 2019, 2-4:30PM
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival! 中秋节快乐!
Join us on this special day to make your own lantern, eat moon cakes, drink tea, and celebrate loved ones.
Drop in anytime between 2-4:30 pm!
$10, Member’s FREE
Join the City of Chicago and a multitude of partner organizations for a day-long neighborhood festival celebrating the 150th anniversary of the historic Chicago Water Tower—built in 1869 by architect William W. Boyington and one of the only buildings to survive the Great Chicago Fire.
Chicago Water Tower 150th Celebration
September 14, 2019, 10AM – 5PM
During the celebration, IMSS will host family programming including art making and educational activities.
Main festival located at the historic Chicago Water Tower (806 N Michigan Ave). Free programming will include family activities, lectures, tours, theatre performances, public art, and exhibitions—plus food trucks, dining discounts and complimentary admission to nearby cultural institutions. Visit https://watertowerarts.org/150th/ for a full schedule of events.
Free with the price of admission.
IMSS Book Club: This Way Madness Lies
September 11, 2019, 5:30PM
At each meeting there is a round table style book discussion and an opportunity to explore objects from our collections or get hands-on with interactive activities that are thematically relevant to the text. We’re reading This Way Madness Lies by Mike Jay.
FREE
IMSS 65th Birthday Party & Tour
September 9, 2019, 5:30PM
On this special birthday tour, Museum staff will shine a light on the Museum’s history. A complimentary party will follow the tour including games, snacks, and cake!
$15, Member’s FREE
After Hours: Summer Surgical Science
September 5, 2019, 5:30PM
Grab a friend and visit the Museum after hours at our 4th Annual Surgical Science After-Hours Party! Also check out our newest exhibit: Pictures of Nursing: The Zwerdling Postcard Collection.
FREE
Contact our Museum Programming and Events Department at 312-642-6502 or info@imss.org.
