Danville in Boyle County, Kentucky — The American South (East South Central)
Ephraim McDowell House
Photographed By Ken Smith, November 19, 2013
1. Dr. Ephraim McDowell House Marker
Home of Ephraim McDowell, the “father of modern surgery.” Here on December 25, 1809, McDowell performed the first successful abdominal operation when he took a 22-pound ovarian cyst from Jane Todd Crawford of Green Co. With no anesthesia, she sang hymns during the operation. Crawford recovered in 25 days and lived until 1842.
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Built in 3 stages. Brick ell, or single-story wing, built 1790s. McDowell purchased house in 1802 and added front clapboard section c. 1804. Rear brick office and formal gardens added in 1820. House sold when McDowell died in 1830. In 1930s, Ky. Med. Assoc. bought house; restored by WPA. House dedicated on May 20, 1939. Now a house museum.
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Erected 2009 by Kentucky Historical Society & Kentucky Department of Highways. (Marker Number 2284.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Colonial Era • Science & Medicine • Settlements & Settlers. In addition, it is included in the Kentucky Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is May 1925.
Location. 37° 38.698′ N, 84° 46.262′ W. Marker is in Danville, Kentucky, in Boyle County. Marker is on South 2nd
this page online
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Dr. Ephraim McDowell House (here, next to this marker); African American Business District - Doric Lodge No. 18 (F. & A.M.-P.H.A.) (within shouting distance of this marker); Alban Gilpin Smith Goldsmith (within shouting distance of this marker); First USCT Recruits at Camp Nelson (within shouting distance of this marker); Jail (within shouting distance of this marker); Isaac Shelby (within shouting distance of this marker); Site of Log Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker); Courthouse (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Danville.
Also see . . . McDowell House Museum. Museum website homepage (Submitted on January 2, 2014.)
Photographed By Ken Smith, November 19, 2013
2. Dr. Ephraim McDowell House Marker
via McDowell House Museum, unknown
3. Dr. Ephraim McDowell
Photographed By Forest McDermott, May 6, 2011
4. Ephraim McDowell House Marker
McDowell House is partially in the background.
Photographed By Forest McDermott, May 6, 2011
5. Ephraim McDowell House
Marker is located to the left of the house.
Credits. This page was last revised on July 21, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 1, 2014, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 538 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 1, 2014, by Ken Smith of Milan, Tennessee. 3. submitted on July 21, 2023, by Larry Gertner of New York, New York. 4, 5. submitted on August 5, 2016, by Forest McDermott of Masontown, Pennsylvania. • Al Wolf was the editor who published this page.
