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Holmes Medical Museum: A Glimpse into Medical History

Explore early 20th-century medical history at Baldwin County's first hospital, featuring original artifacts and exhibits in Foley, Alabama.

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Step back in time at the Holmes Medical Museum, housed in Baldwin County's first hospital (1936-1958). Explore original medical equipment, vintage surgical instruments, and recreated hospital rooms, offering a fascinating look at early 20th-century healthcare in Foley, Alabama [3, 10].

A brief summary to Holmes Medical Museum

  • Monday 10 am-3 pm
  • Tuesday 10 am-3 pm
  • Wednesday 10 am-3 pm
  • Thursday 10 am-3 pm
  • Friday 10 am-3 pm
  • Saturday 10 am-3 pm

Local tips

  • Admission is free, but donations are appreciated to help maintain the museum [3, 9].
  • Check out the original entrance to the hospital, located just down from the current museum entrance [9].
  • Combine your visit with a stroll through downtown Foley's shops and restaurants [3, 9].
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Getting There

  • Walking

    The Holmes Medical Museum is located in downtown Foley, making it easily accessible on foot. From Heritage Park, walk one block west on Laurel Avenue. The museum will be on your right [9].

  • Driving

    The Holmes Medical Museum is located at 111 W Laurel Ave in downtown Foley. From Highway 59, turn west onto Laurel Avenue. The museum will be on your right. Parking is available directly in front of the museum and in a larger parking area across the street [5, 9]. Parking is free [5].

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Discover more about Holmes Medical Museum

The Holmes Medical Museum, located in downtown Foley, Alabama, offers a unique and engaging look into the history of medicine [9]. Housed in the original Sibley Holmes Memorial Hospital, which served Baldwin County from 1936 to 1958, the museum preserves the atmosphere and equipment of a small-town hospital from the early 20th century [3, 9, 10]. Visitors can explore the original operating room, complete with vintage surgical tools and lighting, as well as patient rooms and exhibits showcasing early radiology equipment, antique medicines, and the evolution of nursing practices [3, 9]. Many of the items on display were donated by local residents, adding a personal touch to the museum and connecting visitors to the community's past [3, 9]. The museum provides an educational experience for all ages, illustrating the advancements in healthcare over the decades [3, 9, 11]. It's a chance to appreciate the dedication of the medical pioneers who served the region and to reflect on how far medical technology has come [9]. The museum includes a waiting room (complete with ancient ashtrays) and a pharmacy, where the doctors themselves compounded medicines for their patients [4]. A complete skeleton can be found “hanging around” the displays of medical vials and mixing mortars and pestles [4]. The Holmes Medical Museum officially opened in 2001 and is now operated by the South Baldwin Museum Foundation [7].

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