History • Science Culture

International Museum of Surgical Science: A Historic Chicago Lakefront Mansion

The International Museum of Surgical Science is located inside a historic lakefront mansion in Chicago, originally constructed in 1917. Modeled after Le Petit Trianon at Versailles, the French château designed for Marie Antoinette, the mansion was later reimagined by celebrated architect Howard Van Doren Shaw, who added defining elements such as a fourth floor and a carriage drive.

This historic Chicago mansion still features its original architectural details—polished limestone, Italian marble, decorative plaster, brass fixtures, eight stone fireplaces, and a dramatic gilded metal staircase. After significant renovations and the development of its medical collection, the Museum officially opened to the public in 1954.

 

Today, the mansion remains one of the last lakefront mansions in Chicago—and the only one accessible to the public. It is designated a City of Chicago Landmark and is listed on both the National Register of Historic Places and the Illinois Register of Historic Places. The property is also part of the renowned Seven Houses on Lake Shore Drive, a group of Chicago’s most prominent historic residences.

Historic Wedding and Event Venue in Chicago

As one of the most unique wedding and event venues in Chicago, the International Museum of Surgical Science offers a rare opportunity to host your wedding, reception, or private event inside an architecturally significant historic Chicago landmark on the lakefront.

Interested in hosting your event with us? Fill out the form below with information about your event and our team will reach out to you shortly with more information and to schedule a site visit. We can’t wait to hear from you!

Contact us today

FAQs

Just steps from Downtown Chicago with stunning views of Lake Michigan, our Museum is located in the Historic Gold Coast neighborhood of Chicago at 1524 N. Lake Shore Drive. 

Nearby accommodations include The Ambassador Hotel, The Thompson Hotel, The Viceroy, and Hotel Lincoln. 

The historic lakeside mansion that now houses the International Museum of Surgical Science was constructed in 1917 under the careful direction of Eleanor Robinson Countiss, for whom the estate is named. Her father, J.K. Robinson, an executive at the Diamond Match Company, generously funded the construction of the home.

Designed to echo the classical lines of Le Petit Trianon—a French château on the grounds of Versailles completed in 1770 by architect Ange-Jacques Gabriel and famously associated with Marie Antoinette—the mansion was brought to life by renowned architect Howard Van Doren Shaw. Shaw adapted the design to include a fourth floor and a traditional carriage drive.

Many original features have been meticulously preserved, including polished limestone, Italian marble, decorative plasterwork, brass hardware, eight stone fireplaces, and a gilded metal staircase.

The Countiss family owned the residence until it was acquired by Dr. Max Thorek and the International College of Surgeons. After several years of restoration and the development of the Museum’s collection, the International Museum of Surgical Science officially opened to the public in 1954.

As one of the few remaining lakefront mansions in Chicago—and the only one open to the public—the building received historic status in 1988. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the Illinois Register of Historic Places, and is recognized as a City of Chicago Landmark.

The Eleanor Robinson Countiss House is also designated as one of the “Seven Houses on Lakeshore Drive,” a collection of historically significant mansions that line Chicago’s iconic lakefront.

Learn More about the Countiss Mansion Here

  • Evening Cocktail Reception: Maximum 200 guests
  • Seated Dinner Reception: Maximum 100 guests
  • Wedding Ceremony: Maximum 100 guests
  • Business Meeting or Luncheon: Maximum 100 guests
  • Seated Theatre-style Presentation: Maximum 100 guests

Guest parking is not available. Street parking is extremely limited. The Museum validates parking for several nearby public parking lots which provide guests with an hourly discount. The IMSS has no on-site parking. Ample discounted parking is available in 2 locations within a few minutes walk of the Museum. Retrieve a discounted validation voucher/stamp at the Museum box office to present to the parking attendant upon exiting the lot/ramp.

*Please note: the Museum cannot verify lot prices due to fluctuation. Most range between $9-$17. Please call lot directly for pricing information. 

Public Parking Lot – Behind the Chicago History Museum located at Clark and LaSalle Streets, Chicago, IL 60614; entrance on Stockton Drive. 773.549.3145.

Public Parking Lot – In the condominium building at 1350 N. Lake Shore Drive, Chicago, IL 60610; entrance on E. Banks Street. 312.337.1350.

Spot Hero: For alternate parking options we recommend booking convenient and affordable parking in advance through SpotHero. To reserve your parking spot, visit the International Museum of Surgical Science Parking Page and book a spot with rates up to 50% off drive-up.

The Museum is available for private events seven days a week. Evening events can start at 6:00 PM with set up starting at 4:00 PM. Rentals starting before 6:00 AM or ending past midnight are at a rate of $1,000 per hour. One hour of setup and one hour of cleanup must be included in the booking rental.

We also offer the Museum as a meeting or luncheon space during Museum hours, in which case we close the Library and Hall of Immortals to visitors during the rental time at our partial buyout rate.

The Museum has two indoor ramps and an elevator. A wheelchair accessible entrance is located on the north side of the building. As the Museum possessed limited parking for staff and vendors, ADA parking requests will be considered on a case by case basis and accommodated if possible. 

The Museum has the following available for rent at no additional cost to the client (Items not included during event sales):

  • Podium & Handheld

  • Wireless Microphone

  • Projector & Screen

  • High Boy Tables (Qty 5, no linens)

  • 6ft Tables (Qty 10, no linens)

  • Cushioned Banquet Chairs (Qty 50)

The Museum has the following available for rental:

Bar package (82″x 33″x 15″ Pop up bar; (2) 112 Qt Coolers): $100

All evening private events include the use of all four floors of the Museum. Daytime events renting as a partial-closure will have access to the Hall of Immortals and the Library unless the client secures a Museum buy-out. Our main event space is the second floor of the Museum.

    • Outside food and beverage is allowed. For larger events with catering, the Museum asks that the client first review our list of preferred vendors. Off-list caterers are permitted to operate at the Museum with prior authorization. Please discuss with Museum Event staff.

    • Alcohol is permitted to be served on premises. In all cases, the client must enlist a licensed insured caterer or bartending company to serve all alcohol to guests. If the enlisted bar service provider does not possess their own liquor license that will provide adequate coverage for the event, the client is required and solely responsible for securing proper permits through the City of Chicago. IMSS reserves the right to refuse the vendor’s services if proper licensure is not obtained and provided to IMSS within 14-days of the event. 

    • Select items of furniture may be moved with prior authorization. Requests must be made at least one (1) week prior to the event date. Museum reserves the sole discretion to approve or deny requests.

    • Event Security is required for all evening events with 50+ guests in attendance. Security will be hired at the discretion of the Museum. 

      The client is responsible for a $350.00 Event Security fee unless otherwise discussed (Event Security fee is incorporated into full-price wedding packages; Event Security is not incorporated into any sale rates for weddings, private events, etc.) 

    • Ticketed events are permitted.

    • For hourly rentals, we require that one hour of setup and one hour of clean up is paid for for private events such as dinners, weddings, parties, galas, etc. in addition to the event rental period.

    • The Museum strictly prohibits public nudity in any and all forms or manifestations.