A small town medical facility is probably the last place you’d expect to find a museum, but that’s exactly the case with the Mississippi State Sanatorium Museum in Magee. Truly one-of-a-kind, the museum focuses on one of the most trying times in Mississippi’s past – the tuberculosis epidemic. Featuring unique exhibits and loads of history, the museum will completely fascinate you. Take a look:
Head to the small town of Magee in Simpson County, and you'll find the Boswell Regional Center.
Now a medical center for patients with developmental disabilities, it was originally opened in 1918 as The State Sanatorium.
The Sanatorium was established in an effort to combat Tuberculosis, which was an urgent public health problem at the time.
The highly contagious respiratory disease was fatal in about 80% of those who contracted it.
Dr. Henry Boswell is credited with establishing the facility.
In 1916, he appeared before the Mississippi Legislature and proposed the idea, which was extremely well received and resulted in the city of Magee donating 200 acres of land for the project.
The Sanatorium closed in 1976. Today, many of the original buildings are designated Mississippi Landmarks.
The former staff house now serves as the Mississippi State Sanatorium Museum.
Although small, the museum features an impressive collection of narrative and biographical exhibits.
There's also plenty of artifacts, such as this vintage movie projector from the Sanatorium recreation hall.
You'll even have the opportunity to explore a fully furnished patient room that's equipped with a vintage electro-surgical unit.
Visit this one-of-a-kind museum at 1049 Simpson Highway 149 in Magee Monday through Friday, from 8 am - 4:30 pm. For more information, head to the Mississippi State Sanatorium Museum’s website or call (601) 867-5000.
Looking for more must-visit museums? Check out "Here Are 11 Museums In Mississippi That Are Just Too Weird For Words."
Subscribe to our newsletter
Get the latest updates and news
Thank you for subscribing!
