McDowell House in Danville, Kentucky provides historical, tourist, and genealogical information. Here on Christmas morning 1809, Dr. Ephraim McDowell performed surgery on Jane Todd Crawford for the removal of an ovarian tumor. The ovarian tumor he removed from Mrs. Crawford weighed twenty-two and one-half pounds. The surgery was performed without benefit of anesthetic or antisepsis, neither of which was known to the medical profession at the time. Mrs. Crawford's surgery was successful. She returned to her home in Green County twenty-five days after the operation and lived another thirty-two years. This was the first successful removal of an ovarian tumor in the world. Click here to learn more by visiting the History pages.

Danville is now a part of the new Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway, a National Scenic Byway! Click here: Lincoln Heritage Scenic Highway

McDowell House has been named a National Historic Landmark. (click here)

Come see the newly renovated apothecary garden! Features 30 labeled plants!
(Click pictures to enlarge)

McDowell House has recently acquired another beautiful quilt!
It won this silver cup in the Danville Fair in 1855.
Viewing the quilt is included with a regular tour.
(Click picture to enlarge)

Pioneer Playhouse DVD Infamous Ephraim now available for $15.00

Updates on the 200th celebration will be posted
as dates and activities are announced.

Lecture Series at the Danville/Boyle County Library

The Shelby Family (DATE: Monday, February 22, 2010)
Mrs. Carolyn Crabtree will speak about the Shelby family. Isaac Shelby was the first and fifth governor of Kentucky and Dr. McDowell’s father-in-law. 6:30 pm