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 The
summer months are often a time that families hop in the car for a
cross-country trip of sightseeing, or board a plane to a particular
destination. If your plans are flexible, the Samuel D. Harris National
Museum of Dentistry in Baltimore, Maryland is a "must see"
attraction for the whole family.
From the moment you enter the door, you'll begin to
explore and discover the fascinating roots and history of dentistry in
a most unusual and imaginative environment.
Your first contact will be with a life-size model of a
female circus trapeze artist lifting a huge weight with her teeth! If
that isn't enough to take your breath away, there is the world's first
and only Tooth Jukebox, playing vintage commercials for oral hygiene
products, an amazing tower of chairs a literal history of the
dental chair reaching from floor to ceiling, and an incredible display
of toothbrushes with ingenious designs.
This is all to say that the National Museum of
Dentistry isn't musty, dusty, obsolete, or painful; rather it is an
inviting and fanciful place, offering captivating exhibits, artifacts,
and curiosities relating to dentistry and teeth.
The museum is located in the heart of downtown
Baltimore on the professional school campus of the University of
Maryland. The museum's neighbors include the celebrated Oriole Park at
Camden Yards, the Baltimore Ravens' football stadium, the B & O
Railroad Museum, the Babe Ruth Baseball Museum, and the grave of
writer and poet Edgar Allan Poe.
The surrounding neighborhood is colorful, diverse, and
historically significant. As an added bonus, it's just a short walk to
the Baltimore waterfront with its complex of shops, eateries, old
sailing ships, and an astounding marine aquarium.
The museum contains 2 floors of innovatively-designed
exhibitions, including George Washington's lower dentures. There are
lots of interactive exhibits for children and parents to share in
numerous multi-sensory experiences. The Museum Shop is not to be
missed for extensive offerings and distinctive souvenirs and gifts.
The Museum is named for Dr. Samuel D. Harris, a
pioneer in pediatric dentistry. Dr. Harris dedicated his professional
life to the improvement of children's dental health care. He was also
a collector of historical dental artifacts and his gifts were
instrumental in the establishment of this fascinating museum.
A visit to the Samuel D. Harris National Museum of
Dentistry offers an exciting, unique and valuable experience. It's an
extremely worthwhile summer vacation destination and is just a short
ride to our nation's capital, Washington, D.C.
Have fun and don't forget to pack your toothbrush,
paste, and floss! Dr. Eric Lebowitz is a pediatric dentist
specializing in care for infants, children, and teens. He is in
private practice in Kendall at Tooth Fairy-Land, located near Baptist
Hospital. Questions about this topic can be directed to Dr. Lebowitz
at (305) 279-4312. Dr. Lebowitz has been a resident of Pinecrest for
over 20 years.
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