History: The Southern California Medical Museum was founded in 1982 by the Historical Committee of the San Bernardino County Medical Society (SBCMS) to collect and preserve medical artifacts and record the history of medicine in the Inland Empire area.

The Museum consists of display cases housing a collection of medical artifacts, historical photographs of SBCMS presidents and hospitals in the county, a medical library with volumes dating back to 1843, and a re-creation of a doctor's office of the 1900-1920 era.

The collection is arranged to emphasize the various specialties of medicine and to give the visitor an opportunity to learn about the instruments and tools that have been used in the past and at present.

Photograph exhibits display over 101 of the SBCMS presidents, beginning with the first president, William Riley Fox, MD in 1878 to the current president. Other photographs show comparisons of modern San Bernardino county hospitals to the older structures that they replaced.

The Ralph Kleinman Library covers over a century of medicine, from the 1820s to 1940. In addition, there are histories of the hospitals in San Bernardino County, biographies of physicians and vintage photographs to preserve the history of medicine.

The Doctor's Office is a life-size diorama, which attempts to recreate the typical examination room of the 1900-1920 era. There are mannequins of a doctor seated at his roll-top desk and a mother and her child standing nearby. In the room are equipment and other items that might be found in an office. This exhibit is part of an ongoing project and will have further additions and restoration as funds and artifacts become available.

Be a Friend of the Museum. For as little as $25 a year (individual) or $50 a year (family) you can help support one of the few medical museums in California. Larger contributions ($500 or more) are recognized on the donor plaque in the museum. All contributions are tax deductible.

The Southern California Medical Museum is located at the San Bernardino County Medical Society at 3993 Jurupa Ave., Riverside CA 92506. The museum is open by appointment during business hours Monday through Friday (except holidays and scheduled events). Telephone: (951) 787-7700. The museum is supported by donations and funds through the Physicians Memorial, Gift and Benevolence Fund, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Donations of medical equipment and medical books published prior to 1930 are encouraged.

Additional Information
about the Physicians' Memorial, Gift, and Benevolence Fund, Inc.

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Support the Medical Museum
Annual Report of the Historical Committee & Medical Museum Committee
Support the Bangasser Medical Student Scholarship Fund