A Century of Care
“Anatomy of Healthcare” at Elmhurst History Museum Explores Medical Milestones
History isn’t only found in old photographs or preserved buildings. It also lives in the institutions that have helped shape everyday life.
A recent exhibit at the Elmhurst History Museum explored the evolution of healthcare in the community over the last century. “Anatomy of Healthcare: DuPage County Medical History” also celebrated a major milestone: the 100th anniversary of Elmhurst Hospital.
The museum’s exhibit was anchored by stories of historic figures and artifacts.
Known today as Endeavor Health Elmhurst Hospital, this cornerstone of the community has served generations of families. The exhibit highlighted how healthcare grew from humble beginnings into a trusted system providing advanced medical care.
“This exhibit was in the works for a long time, especially with such a big milestone approaching,” said Sarah Cox, Curator of Exhibits at Elmhurst History Museum. The exhibit also featured other hospitals that emerged to serve the growing population of DuPage County during the 1960s and 1970s.
Anchored by artifacts and people that illustrated stories of care in the community’s early “rural” days, the collection highlighted pivotal moments that led to today’s modern systems.
“While planning for the exhibit, I thought about what ‘health care’ meant over the last 100 years: what would someone in the late 1800s and early 1900s have had access to? What do we have access to today that we may take for granted?”
Pioneers of Care
A Civil War-era medical kit
An historic figure featured was Elmhurst’s first physician, Dr. George Heidmann, who was also a Civil War surgeon.
“It was rare that a village doctor with education in medicine also had the grim perspective on the horrors of war,” Cox added.
Among the artifacts displayed was a Civil War medical kit, the type that Dr. Heidmann carried as he moved through encampments and field hospitals with the Illinois 58th Infantry Regiment. This was an essential tool for a Civil War surgeon, designed to address the brutal injuries sustained on the battlefield. Dr. Heidmann also devoted time to combating infection and disease, which spread due to unsanitary conditions, inadequate nutrition, and overcrowded quarters.
Another historic figure anchoring the exhibit was Dr. Edward Marquardt.
“He was an important advocate for opening a hospital in what was then a ‘rural community’,” adds Cox. “People would receive care in the community for smaller ailments and injuries, but for more significant or urgent needs, they needed to go all the way to Chicago.”
Dr. Marquardt was also an advocate for continuing education. He opened a nursing school in the hospital 1930. The exhibit featured an example textbook and an original nursing school uniform.
Another person featured in the gallery was Fred Ramsdale, an immunologist who was born in Elmhurst. In 2025, Ramsdale was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine for groundbreaking immune system research, crucial for developing treatments for autoimmune diseases.
Care Through A Child’s Eye
One of the more memorable elements was the Kids Play Clinic, an interactive area where children could step into the role of doctor.
“Kids could try on lab coats, operate an X-ray machine, and examine ‘patients’ like dolls and teddy bears,” added Cox. “The idea here is to create familiarity and some comfort for kids in medical environments through play.”
Snuggles the Elephant was a plush toy given to young patients at Elmhurst Hospital.
Kids were also drawn to Snuggles the Pink Elephant plush toy on display. A tradition dating back to the 1950s, it was given to children admitted as a symbol of comfort and compassionate care. Through the years, over 60,000 Snuggles toys were provided to patients and families to spread warmth and reassurance. The pink elephant inspired the creation of the now shuttered Pink Elephant Resale Shop.
Honoring the Past, Caring for the Future
The stories behind these people and artifacts illustrate how healthcare has been shaped in the region, while also offering a perspective on the progress that continues to define modern medicine. The common thread is the role Elmhurst has played in its longstanding commitment to community care.
Mark Your Calendars
Check out more upcoming exhibits at the Elmhurst History Museum:
“History of Her: Women Who Shaped Chicagoland”
May 29 – August 9
Learn the stories of trailblazing activists, ground-breaking artists, educators, athletes, and other women who shaped the community and changed the world.
“Bear Down: Football in the Windy City”
August 28 – January 3
“Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it,” said George “Papa Bear” Halas, the late founder, owner and coach of the Chicago Bears. The exhibit will showcase 100 years of moments and memories that have defined the team and its city.
