Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through our links, at no extra cost to you. #ad
Think dusty relics and boring charts? Think again. This tiny museum near Jefferson City is packed with quirky, historical, and sometimes shocking displays that celebrate 500 years of veterinary medical history — and it’s way more interesting (and interactive) than you’d expect.
A Bit of Backstory
The Missouri Veterinary Medical Foundation Museum opened in 1978, and it was the first veterinary museum in the U.S. Founded by a group of nine veterinarians who wanted to preserve the science and tools of their trade, it now houses more than 3,500 artifacts—from medieval medicines to modern surgical instruments . It’s still one of only three privately held veterinary museums in North America .
Visiting with little ones? An Animal Science Kits for Kids #ad and magnifying glass #ad combo lets them explore the specimens up close. Maybe add a science journal #ad to record their discoveries.
What You’ll Explore Inside
Old-School Veterinary Tools & Artifacts
Step into the James Herriot zone. From horse dental instruments to gastrointestinal anatomy tools, the displays take you from Europe to rural Missouri clinics. You’ll also see antique balling guns, birthing hooks, and Swiss trocars that doctors once used to relieve animal bloat (yep, it’s as gruesome as it sounds) .
Books, Journals & Missouri Veterinary History
See handwritten medical treatises from the 1500s, early Missouri state vet journals, and ledgers from pioneers like Paul Paquin, who was the state’s first official veterinarian. These documents trace Missouri’s evolution into a major hub for animal health.
Strange Specimens & Hairballs
Grab your gross-out goggles. Among the specimens you’ll find preserved Siamese piglets, a mammoth pig hairball, and even a colossal horse bladder stone—a visitor favorite for reasons both curious and slightly horrifying.
Military Veterans on Four Legs
There’s a section dedicated to military veterinarians, highlighting their work with horses, pigeons, and other creatures during wartime. Displays include gear, photos, and stories of animals in service.
Fun Facts: Things That Make You Pause
- The museum offers a hands-on learning area that even kids love
- The largest pig litter on record—37 piglets—makes you wonder how those specimens were counted, preserved, and displayed beside actual jars of Siamese piglets
- Multiple visitors describe how a giant horse bladder stone makes their jaw literally drop .
Visitor Tips
- Location: 2500 Country Club Drive, Jefferson City, MO
- Hours: Weekdays 9 a.m.–4 p.m.; Saturdays by appointment
- Admission: Free across the board — no ticket, no catch
- Tour Style: Self-guided — great for wandering and stopping where curiosity strikes
Affiliate Links related to post. Making a purchase through our links help support our site, at no extra cost to you: