Most people consider Florence Nightingale to be the world’s most famous nurse, but did you know that whilst serving her country in the Crimean War, the conflict that catapulted her into the international limelight, Nightingale contracted a life-changing illness that frequently left her bed-ridden, and suffering from chronic fatigue? Despite the challenge of ongoing disability, Nightingale went on to establish the nursing profession as we know it today.
Our museum now has the chance to acquire her wheelchair from the Alan Mason Chesney Medical Archives, Johns Hopkins University, USA. We are keen to secure the wheelchair, recognising that this unique and important object will allow us to visibly portray Nightingale’s battle with her health; inspiring others with similar challenges to also excel and achieve.
Update: We have reached our initial fundraising target of £12,000, thanks to a number of donations on our GoFundMe and directly to the Florence Nightingale Museum. Thank you to everyone who donated or shared our story! Our fundraising success includes a large donation from the Company of Nurses Charitable Trust, who kindly responded to our press appeal and were keen to fund the transportation, and bring the historic wheelchair back to the UK; adding it to the much-admired collection of ‘Nightingalia’ at the Florence Nightingale Museum.
This fundraising page will remain active whilst we arrange transport and installation arrangements, acting as a way of keeping supporters informed of latest developments. Please do look back for further updates. Any additional donations will be used to support further conservation and care, associated community projects, and display requirements. You can still be part of this success story!
Welcome to the Florence Nightingale Museum
The Florence Nightingale Museum celebrates the life and work of the best known figure in nursing history.
Did you know Florence Nightingale was the first female member of the Royal Statistical Society? That she owned over 60 cats throughout her life and had a pet owl called Athena? Do you know why she was called Florence?
Nightingale was the founder of modern nursing, was one of our greatest Victorians and a female icon in her own lifetime. She is still an inspiration to nurses around the globe.
Visit the museum to celebrate the life of this trailblazing woman; discover all about her affluent childhood, how she fought against her parents’ wishes to become a nurse, her work during the Crimean War and how she campaigned for better healthcare for ordinary people. See the actual lamp she carried which earned her the nickname The Lady With The Lamp, meet her pet owl and see her medicine chest.
