Doctor Crawford W. Long began his medical studies in Lexington, KY, in the late 1830s. He became the first physician to use ether for surgical anesthesia. That milestone was accomplished on March 30, 1842. Dr. Long, a country doctor, became “the father of painless surgery.”
The Crawford W. Long Museum in Jefferson, Georgia, is filled with educational displays that illustrate the life and career of Dr. Long. The presentations take visitors through Dr. Long’s life, from his exceptional education through the days of the Civil War and Reconstruction.
A new exhibit showcases artifacts related to transportation in the mid 1800s. “Traveling” draws from Dr. Long’s life and reveals the trials of traveling in that era.
Dr. Long once went from his family home in Danielsville through western North Carolina … to Knoxville, TN … on to Lexington, KY — a month-long trip — by horseback. Maps show the route Dr. Long probably followed and historical charts list charges for crossing privately owned toll bridges.
Jefferson, Georgia’s, role as an overnight stagecoach stop serves as an example of such travel throughout the south and west. Unlike depictions from Hollywood, travelers did not arrive at their destinations wearing spotless, freshly ironed, lavish clothing. In fact, travel by stagecoach was slow, crowded, dirty and harsh. Overnight stops often provided nothing more than a straw bed, and a glass of milk with cornbread.
The Crawford W. Long Museum is a wonderful destination for a day with friends, family or for school children.
Details
Address: 28 College Street, Jefferson, GA 30549
Phone: 706-367-5307
E-Mail: [email protected]
Hours: Tuesday – Friday from 10:00 AM – 5 PM. Saturday 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM. Closed major holidays.
Cost:
- Adults $5.00 • Seniors (age 65+) $4.00 • Military $3.00
- Students $3.00 • Children Age 5 and under – Free
- January Special: Only $1 for admission per person
