The Public Health Museum is a non-profit educational and cultural museum dedicated to preserving artifacts and records of our nation's history in public health. The Museum also serves as a resource to the community educating and exploring public health initiatives that address current health issues. Since 1994, the museum has been open to the public and has received a wide range of interest in viewing exhibitions on varying themes related to Public Health and related issues. The Museum is home to a valuable collection of objects and documents that chart the history of public health in America, and the story of Tewksbury Hospital and its role in the history of public health in the state of Massachusetts. The hospital was started as an almshouse in 1854 and has provided care for the indigent and underprivileged populations of Massachusetts. The exhibition space illustrates the example of the history of Tewksbury Hospital on which the museum resides in addition to small exhibits on topic such as; Pioneers of Public Health in Massachusetts, history of Tuberculosis Sanitariums, history of Polio, Patent Medicines, Food Supply Safety and Testing, Eradication of Smallpox, and early treatment of Mental Health Disorders. Visitors also learn about early hospital practice and treatment of patients and history of nursing programs.
