Diving into Texas’ long fascination with water as medicine, the Texas Medical Association’s History of Medicine Gallery will open its doors for Austin Museum Day, Sunday, Sept. 20.
Organized by the Austin Museum Partnership, the 29th Annual Austin Museum Day is a free celebration of art, culture, history, music, nature, and science. Over 30 museums in Austin will welcome visitors with special programming, including guided and self-guided exhibition tours, activities, and more. TMA’s History of Medicine Gallery will offer free merchandise, mineral water samples, and an interactive activity for attendees.
During the event, all participating museums waive admission fees; TMA’s History of Medicine Gallery, however, is always free.
TMA’s historical gallery joins the event’s lineup with an exhibit handpicked by the association’s History of Medicine Committee: “Texas Mineral Water: History, Health and Healing Beneath Our Feet.”
Drawing inspiration from Gene Fowler’s 1991 book, Crazy Water: The Story of Mineral Wells and Other Texas Health Resorts, and Janet Valenza’s 2000 book, Taking the Waters in Texas, the display explores historical accounts of Texas’ mineral water boom and chronicles the rise and fall of health resorts across the state. Marketed as cures for rheumatism, arthritis, skin diseases, digestive issues, and even polio, Texas mineral springs remained popular into the early 20th century until water cures were replaced by modern medicine.
“Any medical professional would benefit from a firm understanding of the history of medicine,” Mr. Fowler told Texas Medicine Today. “It was quite an honor for TMA’s History of Medicine Committee to endorse my idea for an exhibit.”
TMA’s History of Medicine Gallery will be open during Austin Museum Day from 11 am to 3 pm Sunday, Sept. 20. Exhibit guests can utilize free parking within TMA’s headquarters located at 401 W. 15th St.
Alisa Pierce
Reporter, Division of Communications and Marketing
(512) 370-1469