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.

Magee Chamber of Commerce/Facebook

Now a medical center for patients with developmental disabilities, it was originally opened in 1918 as The State Sanatorium.

brc.ms.gov

The Sanatorium was established in an effort to combat Tuberculosis, which was an urgent public health problem at the time.

misspreservation.com

The highly contagious respiratory disease was fatal in about 80% of those who contracted it.

misspreservation.com

Dr. Henry Boswell is credited with establishing the facility.

mdah.ms.gov

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.

misspreservation.com

The Sanatorium closed in 1976. Today, many of the original buildings are designated Mississippi Landmarks.

misspreservation.com

The former staff house now serves as the Mississippi State Sanatorium Museum.

brc.ms.gov

Although small, the museum features an impressive collection of narrative and biographical exhibits.

brc.ms.gov

There’s also plenty of artifacts, such as this vintage movie projector from the Sanatorium recreation hall.

brc.ms.gov

You’ll even have the opportunity to explore a fully furnished patient room that’s equipped with a vintage electro-surgical unit.

brc.ms.gov

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.

Magee Chamber of Commerce/Facebook

brc.ms.gov

misspreservation.com

mdah.ms.gov

Looking for more must-visit museums? Check out “Here Are 11 Museums In Mississippi That Are Just Too Weird For Words.“

OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article.