The most famous tourist object and attraction of Vinnitsa is the national museum-estate of the great scientist, surgeon, teacher N.I. Pirogov. The museum complex is located on the south-western outskirts of the city on the territory of the Vishnya estate, where the famous doctor lived the last 20 years of his life. In the ancient one-storeyed house in 10 halls there is a museum exposition covering certain periods of the scientist’s life and activity. The exposition presents manuscripts, printed editions of scientific works, surgical instruments and personal belongings of the great surgeon. The 12 sections successively show his childhood years, youth, studies at the Moscow University; the medical, scientific, pedagogical and public activities of N.I. Pirogov, his contribution to the development of national and world science are comprehensively revealed.
The memorial complex includes: St. Nicholas Church-necropolis, where the embalmed body of our outstanding compatriot rests in a transparent sarcophagus; museum-pharmacy, which recreates the interior of a rural pharmacy with pharmacy utensils and dishes of the second half of the XIX century; rooms and interiors of the reception room and operating room, where Pirogov received and treated patients. Wax figures, images of the doctor, his assistants and patients for the museum-pharmacy were made by Kiev sculptor S.M. Britannia. The museum has a special laboratory, whose scientific staff performs work on the next rebalzamations of Pirogov’s body.
Fond collection of the museum is 16.5 thousand items.
N.I. Pirogov is primarily known as a world-famous surgeon, the creator of military field surgery, the founder of topographical anatomy, the inventor of ether anesthesia and plaster bandage, as well as the founder of the Red Cross Society and an outstanding teacher. But despite such a hectic professional and public activity Nikolai Ivanovich found an opportunity to engage in agriculture, cultivation of medicinal plants and favorite roses, which brought him mental pleasure. And he also loved to take care of a large garden, in which grew more than 2000 fruit trees and a vineyard.
On the territory of the memorial complex there are two spruce trees, which Pirogov planted 140 years ago by his own hand, black elderberry bushes, century-old trees of linden alley remember the wonderful doctor and his patients who came to him from everywhere for help. Nikolai Ivanovich believed that clean air heals the patient from disease. His medicinal tinctures, ointments and powders included a variety of herbal collections, elder flowers, spruce resin, periwinkle and many other medicinal plants.
Such was this fine doctor and man. On the occasion of the 125th anniversary of Pirogov’s birth in 1935, professors N.N. Bolyarsky and G.G. Gurevich of the Vinnitsa Medical Institute noted: «Pirogov belongs not only to the country where he was born, he belongs to the world surgery, and it is a matter of honor for our surgeons to immortalize his memory…». The National Museum-Mansion of Pirogov became such a monument.
Contacts
Vinnitsa, 155 Pirogova str.
Tel. (0432) 43-71-49
www.pirogov.com.ua