Surgical Instruments and Health Museum

The Surgical Instruments and Health Museum was established in the building of the Locomotive Maintenance and Repair Workshop, constructed in 1926 by the Turkish Republic State Railways (TCDD) as part of the Samsun-Sivas railway line. The structure, reflecting early Republican architectural principles, is one of the historic buildings located in the center of Samsun. After remaining unused for many years, restoration work initiated in 2016 was completed in 2019 and the building was opened as a museum.

Exhibited Objects (Anadolu Agency)

Museum’s Founding Purpose and Operational Structure

The museum was established to document preserve and display the historical development of surgical instruments medical devices and health supplies. In 2019 the building was redeveloped through a joint initiative by the Samsun Governorship Ondokuz Mayıs University Samsun Metropolitan Municipality Central Black Sea Development Agency (OKA) Samsun Provincial Directorate of Health Samsun Provincial Directorate of Culture and Tourism and the Samsun Medical Innovation Cluster Association (MEDİKÜM) as the Samsun Surgical Instruments and Health Museum.

Museum Collection and Scope

The museum’s collection comprises approximately 280 types of medical devices and health equipment dating from the late 18th century to the mid-20th century. The collection is categorized as follows:

• Prostheses and orthoses
• Surgical cutting and intervention instruments
• Dental instruments and dental prostheses
• Obstetric and gynecological instruments
• Medical devices for ear nose and throat
• Patient transport and support equipment (wheelchairs stretchers canes crutches)
• Hygiene and sterilization equipment
• Ultraviolet light machines and other therapeutic devices

The collection forms a comprehensive repository documenting the historical evolution of medical devices and health technologies.

Exhibited Objects (Anadolu Agency)

Exhibition Areas and Notable Objects

Entrance Section

The entrance section displays patient chairs prostheses and orthoses from the 18th century. Examples of hospital and care equipment from various periods are also exhibited in this area.

Central Axis Section

The central axis section features 19th century wooden armchairs commodes chamber pots and waste containers. Also exhibited here are thermophores from the early 1900s vaginal syringes from the 1920s canes crutches various patient chairs massage devices back scratchers and ultraviolet light machines. This section also houses prostheses and orthoses hernia belts and stretchers dating from the 1800s.

Exhibited Objects (Museum of Surgical Instruments and Health)

General Surgery Exhibition Hall (Hall 1)

This hall contains autoclave sterilization machines surgical cutting instruments and surgical tools used in obstetrics from the early 1900s. It illustrates the historical development of equipment used in surgical procedures.

Dental Instruments and Eye Examinations (Hall 2)

Hall 2 displays historical dental instruments and dental prostheses as well as eye examination sets. Notable items include dental prostheses approximately 200 years old and tooth extraction forceps dating from 250 to 300 years ago. This section demonstrates the historical evolution of dental practices.

Art Exhibition (Hall 3)

Hall 3 is dedicated to art exhibitions with themes related to health and medicine.

Contemporary Surgical Instruments (Hall 4)

Hall 4 showcases surgical instruments produced today by companies and institutions affiliated with MEDİKÜM. This section features medical devices manufactured using modern production techniques.

Physical Space and Meeting Areas

The second floor of the museum contains a multipurpose hall of approximately 180 square meters used for various meetings seminars conferences and social events.

Historical and Cultural Significance of the Museum

The museum serves as an important cultural heritage site for the preservation documentation and public presentation of instruments and tools related to the history of health and medicine. The transformations and advancements in surgical instruments and medical devices over time can be traced through the collection.