If you’re in Lincoln, Neb, this week and curious about dental history, check out the University of Nebraska Medical Center (UNMC) College of Dentistry Museum. It’s free and open to the public through Saturday, September 16.
“This display represents one of the largest collections of historic dental items dating from the 1850s to the present in the United States,” said Stan Harn, PhD, professor emeritus and curator of the museum.
The collection, which Harn has been building since 1977, is so large that it is only put on display one week each year at the College of Dentistry’s annual open house.
“We have more than 40 dental cabinets on display from the 1860s through the 1950s, including several new ones from the 1870s,” Harn said. “And of course, there will be thousands of dental items on display.”
The museum also features 6 period dental offices from the 1850s to the 1930s, a laboratory from the 1890s, several dental chairs dating from 1840 to 1880, a collection of tooth extraction instruments dating from the 1500s, X-ray machines, and other instruments.
The collection will be displayed at the UNMC College of Dentistry at North 40th and Holdrege streets in Lincoln. Free parking is available on the east side of the building in the patient parking lot. The museum will be open:
- September 13 from 8 am to 9 pm
- September 14 and 15 from 8 am to 5 pm
- September 16 from 8 am to noon.
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