Supported by the LMS Foundation: McDowell House
By Carol Senn, Executive Director
A National Historic Landmark that’s also listed on the National Register of Historic Places, McDowell House Museum & Apothecary in downtown Danville brings to life the accomplishments of famed pioneer surgeon Dr. Ephraim McDowell, who performed the world’s first successful ovariotomy on 46-year-old Green County resident Jane Todd Crawford.
In a 35-minute procedure that historians believe took place on Christmas morning 1809 in an upstairs guest room, Dr. McDowell removed a 22 ½ pound ovarian cyst from Mrs. Crawford at a time when his home, though large and elegant, had no running water or electricity, and its only heat from fireplaces.
Though there was no anesthesia and the threat of infection loomed, Mrs. Crawford, who had already made the 60-mile journey to Danville on horseback over three days despite being in excruciating pain, recovered in just 25 days, returned to her family in good health and lived to age 78.
For this achievement, Dr. McDowell became known worldwide as “The Father of Abdominal Surgery,” and his name now graces Kentucky hospitals and clinics. A postage stamp was released in his honor in 1959, there are numerous articles and books about his life, and his statues grace Washington D.C.’s National Statuary Hall Collection and the Capitol Building in Frankfort.
The house museum, with portions dating from the late 1700s to the early 1800s, opened to the public in 1935 when a group of doctors purchased the late Georgian/early Federal-style home. It was eventually purchased by the Kentucky Medical Association, restored by the Works Progress Administration and is now owned by nonprofit foundation McDowell House Museum Inc.
Over the decades, historic preservation, medical and pharmaceutical societies, volunteers, employees and board members have collaborated to raise or donate funds, and research and curate furnishings that belonged to the family or that were of the time period, making the property and its surrounding kitchen, flower and apothecary gardens today a stunning showcase of Kentucky and medical history.
McDowell House’s board and leadership thanks the LMS for its grant support, which has helped us share Dr. McDowell’s legacy with over 1,000 students and chaperones in 2025 and visitors of all ages from across Kentucky, the U.S. and overseas.
Support from LMSF enabled high schoolers studying health science to visit our museum last year, and programs for teens and children to our local library for hands on presentations about DNA and body science.
The pride in this museum landmark extends beyond the medical and historical communities. We routinely welcome Dr. McDowell’s descendants, some of whom bear the McDowell surname or that of his famed father-in-law, Kentucky’s first and fifth governor and three-time war veteran, Isaac Shelby, whose portrait hangs over the parlor mantel flanked by whale oil lamps from his estate.
2025 was a busy year at McDowell House, with special events including After Hour Tours and our annual Holiday Green Tea and Open House.
We also work closely with nearby Centre College for student internship and research opportunities and introduce a new class of Governor’s Scholars to our museum each summer, where they learn about Dr. McDowell and perform volunteer work onsite.
This year, we’re helping to plan activities commemorating America’s 250th anniversary here in Danville, the Birthplace of Kentucky.
If you haven’t visited with us, we’d love to show you around and tell you more! For more information, visit www.mcdowellhouse.com.