“Sektionssaal” a German word echoes in this building a word for a dissection hall. Today we stand before the Medizinhistorisches Museum Hamburg. This museum vividly presents medical progress and its impact on society. It spans from the late 19th century to the present day.
The Medizinhistorisches Museum Hamburg resides within the University Hospital Eppendorf UKE. Once inside you will discover that this building formerly housed autopsy rooms. Test animal cages and laboratories were also here. These authentic surroundings amplify the exhibits’ significance.
Founded in October 2007 the Medizinhistorisches Museum Hamburg opened its doors in June 2010. It operates under the Institute for the History and Ethics of Medicine at the University Hospital Hamburg-Eppendorf. The museum provides a permanent exhibition plus regular special exhibitions. You can also attend conferences workshop and readings. Find all of this in the Fritz Schumacher House building N30.
Let’s step inside the Medizinhistorisches Museum Hamburg. The permanent exhibition is titled “The Birth of Modern Medicine”. It is structured into eight sections. Each section displays different aspects of medical history. The restored dissection hall features authentic stone tables. These tables date back to 1926. They were used for conducting autopsies. Imagine the countless examinations that took place here.
Other areas offer insights into electron microscopes. You can also view a collection of wax moulages. These moulages are historical models. They exemplify various skin disorders. The exhibition also highlights topics like the study of medicine and hospitals. Urbanity, the role of the port and technical innovation are explored too.
A recent addition addresses the cruelties of medical research under National Socialism. This serves as a sobering reminder. It marks a place of learning and remembrance. It acknowledges Hamburg’s victims of Nazi euthanasia forced sterilizations and human experimentation.
The building itself is a key exhibit at the Medizinhistorisches Museum Hamburg. Hamburg’s building director Fritz Schumacher erected the institute between 1913 and 1926. The complex included laboratories lecture halls and dissection rooms. It also had microscopy rooms and animal testing facilities. This design met medicine’s new research demands.
A highlight is the restored dissection hall. Light floods the hall. Eight stone dissection tables stand ready. These date from 1926. They reflect the room’s original purpose. Bodies of the deceased were examined here. This historical hospital dissection hall is unique in Germany’s museum landscape.
Since 2010 the UKE’s circle of friends and sponsors has supported the building’s restoration. The Hamburg Monument Protection Office numerous foundations and generous private donors also helped. Their contributions preserved this invaluable piece of medical history.
The Medizinhistorisches Museum Hamburg also holds diverse scientific document and object collections. The document collections focus on the history of the Eppendorf Hospital. They include its historical photo collection. Object collections feature items from ENT medicine and dental prosthetics. Collections also come from neuropathology and medical technology.
Notably the moulage collection contains 600 items. These wax figures depict various disease stages and symptoms including syphilis. A selection of these moulages is on display at the Medizinhistorisches Museum Hamburg.
The Medizinhistorisches Museum Hamburg is not just for display. It is also a research institution. In collaboration with the Institute for the History and Ethics of Medicine it works on scientific topics and projects. This ensures that the museum remains a dynamic center for learning and discovery.