Mobile Medical Museum: A Journey Through Healing History

Step back in time at the Mobile Medical Museum, housed in the Vincent-Doan House, one of Mobile's oldest homes dating back to 1827. Founded in 1962 by Dr. Samuel Eichold II, the museum commemorates Mobile's vital role in medical education and public health in Alabama and the Gulf Coast. The museum's permanent exhibit presents over 300 years of medical history, from the colonial period to the present. Visitors can explore pre-Civil War anatomical models, early 20th-century X-ray equipment, and a functioning 1969 heart-lung machine. An Emerson model iron lung from the 1930s serves as a reminder of the challenges posed by the polio epidemic. The Robert Thrower Medicinal Garden showcases multicultural traditions of herbal medicine practiced around the world for thousands of years. The museum also organizes special exhibits in the Mary Elizabeth and Charles Bernard Rodning Gallery, as well as at various offsite locations throughout Mobile. The museum's J.L. Bedsole Archives and Ben May Library contain rare books, letters, documents, and photographs available to students and scholars by appointment. With over 5,000 medical artifacts, the museum rotates its showcase pieces regularly, providing a broad understanding of the evolution of healthcare.