Medicinhistoriska museet, Göteborg

About the museum

The museum’s origins lie in an attic clear-out in the 1930s, when the nurse and stores manager Ingeborg Kastman began to take care of objects from Sahlgrenska hospital and to build up a museum in the hospital’s attic. In the late 1960s the museum received support from Historiska museet (the Museum of National Antiquities), and the collections were catalogued and registered. In the mid-1970s the museum moved to another of the hospital’s old buildings.

Since 1986 the museum has been housed in the Oterdahlska huset (Oterdahl House) by Lilla Bommen in central Gothenburg. The house was bequeathed in 1808 to the hospital by the merchant Aron Oterdahl and in the mid-19th century housed Sahlgrenska hospital. Since 2007 the museum has also had a larger psychiatric history collection, which comes from Lillhagens museum at Lillhagens hospital.

The museum formerly belonged to Sahlgrenska University Hospital, but from 2026 it passes to the Culture Administration of Västra Götaland Region. The permanent exhibition Eld och blod (Fire and Blood) depicts Gothenburg’s medical history over 400 years and shows the occupations and places of care through the ages, together with personal stories and unique objects.

Highlights

• The exhibition Eld och blod (Fire and Blood) on Gothenburg’s medical history over 400 years
• Personal stories and objects about care, treatment and living conditions
• Psychiatric history collection with art and crafts from Lillhagens sjukhus
• Craft room and rat hunt for children
• The medical history map of places of care in Gothenburg

Permanent exhibition

• Eld och blod – The museum’s permanent exhibition on Gothenburg’s medical history over 400 years, with the occupations and places of care through history and the development of medicine and society.

Operated by

Västra Götalandsregionen, Kulturförvaltningen

Visitors per year

approx. 8,335

Admission & discounts

Free admission also for teachers with classes (aged 0–20), folkhögskola (folk high school) and SFI (Swedish for immigrants) students, and holders of a valid ICOM card or a card for members of Sveriges museer (Museums of Sweden).

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible: no information
• Elevator
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome: no information
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

The lift to floor 2 is in the courtyard to the left. The entrance to the lift is from Spannmålsgatan 9, and visitors ring the bell marked MUSEET to be let in.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Hands-on stations
• Playground / play area

Children can make things in the craft room and take part in the rat hunt, where rats are hidden in the museum and whoever finds them all receives a reward.

Getting there & parking

The museum is in central Gothenburg, in the Oterdahl House on Östra Hamngatan. Journey planning is available from Västtrafik.

Amenities & dining

• Museum shop

The museum shop sells books on medicine and medical history in Swedish and English, toys and products with the museum’s own design.

Events & venue rental

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Plan your visit