Harris Dental Museum facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Dr. John Harris Dental School
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Front of the museum
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 Location in Ohio
Location in the United States
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| Location | Main Street (US 50), Bainbridge, Ohio |
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| Area | 0.3 acres (0.12 ha) |
| Built | 1815 |
| NRHP reference No. | 73001521 |
| Added to NRHP | July 23, 1973 |
The Harris Dental Museum is a small brick building in Bainbridge, Ohio. It was built in 1815 as a home. Later, it became the very first dental school in the United States! Today, it's a museum where you can learn about the history of dentistry.
Contents
Who Was Dr. John Harris?
John Harris was born in Pompey, New York. In 1819, he moved to Ohio and started practicing medicine. He was especially interested in dental work. Dr. Harris later moved to Bainbridge and began teaching young doctors.
Why Was His Teaching Special?
Back then, most medical teachers didn't focus much on dentistry. But Dr. Harris was different! He believed that dentistry was very important. He taught his students a lot about caring for teeth.
The First Dental School
Because of Dr. Harris's passion, his home became the first place in the U.S. to teach dentistry in a structured way. This was a big deal for medical education!
His Students Carried On His Work
Many of Dr. Harris's students shared his excitement for dentistry. They went on to create even more dental schools. One of his most famous students was his own brother, Chapin A. Harris. Chapin later founded the Baltimore College of Dental Surgery. This was the first official dental college in the United States!
Dr. Harris: A Pioneer in Dental Education
Today, Dr. John Harris is known as the "pioneer of American dental education." This is because he was one of the first to truly focus on teaching dentistry. His old dental school is now a museum. The Ohio Dental Association bought the building in 1938. It opened as the Dr. John Harris Dental Museum in 1968. The museum has been carefully restored to look almost like it did when Dr. Harris lived and taught there. You can even take tours to see it!
What Does the Museum Look Like?
The Harris Dental Museum is a small building made of brick. It has one main floor and an extra section on one side. The roof is made of asphalt.
A Historic Landmark
Because of its important history, the dental school was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. It's listed as the "Dr. John Harris Dental School." This means it's recognized as a very important place in Ohio's history. It's one of four historic spots in or near Bainbridge that are on this special list.
Images for kids
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Plaque dedicated on November 24, 1940 on the front of museum.
