History of Mass General

Explore memorable moments in and little-known facts of Mass General’s rich history through our collection of online exhibits and tours.

President Kennedy at Mass General

Mass General received 150th anniversary wishes from President John F. Kennedy during a nationally televised interview with Dave Garroway of the Today Show. Learn more -- watch historic TV footage of the interview.

Mass General's Oral History Program

Distinguished members of the Mass General family share personal accounts and rich narratives about the hospital's history in a series of video interviews.

Creating the Ether Dome Painting

Discover how Mass General physicians worked with painters Warren and Lucia Prosperi to immortalize the groundbreaking surgery in the famous Ether Dome painting.

Make friends with Padihershef, the Egyptian mummy who was given to the hospital in 1823 and lives in Mass General's Ether Dome.

Over the course of its history, Mass General has had the privilege of providing care for members of the military during wartime, and war has inevitably influenced and shaped Mass General and the care it provides.

Twenty-two historic points of interest paint a panorama of the medical history of Mass General.