Discover one of Cleveland's finest hidden gems

Join the Bay Village Historical Society in discovering one of Cleveland’s finest hidden gems, the Dittrick Medical History Museum.

The museum opened as the Allen Memorial Medical Library in 1926 and is now on the National Register of Historic Places. While it began as both a medical library and museum, it is now an interdisciplinary studies center of the College of Arts and Science of Case Western Reserve University. The Dittrick Medical History Museum holds one of the most comprehensive collections of surgical instruments and medical equipment in America. Its holdings include an immense variety of artifacts, rare books, archives and images.

Jennifer Kane Nieves, interim director of the museum, will talk about the history of the museum, its legacy and its importance to the present medical world at the Nov. 15 Bay Village Historical Society potluck dinner and program, held at the Bay Community House. A social hour begins at 6 p.m., followed by dinner at 6:30 p.m. and the program at 7 p.m. Admission is free for Bay Historical Society members. A $5 donation is requested of non-members. Membership is encouraged and the annual fee is only $20.

The Bay Historical Society will provide the evening’s main dish. Guests with a last name beginning with the letters A to L are asked to bring an appetizer or dessert for 10. Those with a last name beginning with the letters M to Z are asked to bring a side dish. Everyone is asked to provide their own place setting. If you plan to attend, RSVP to Beth Conroy at 440-821-4427 or email beth2335@yahoo.com by Nov. 8.

The next potluck program will be Feb. 21, 2019, when Doug Kusak, Cleveland Metroparks Historical Interpreter, will enlighten attendees with glorious stories from Cleveland’s past and The Great Lakes Exposition of 1936. Find out what past Clevelanders envisioned future Cleveland to be.