The Polio Exhibit & The TIRR Memorial Iron Lung

Downstairs, visitors can explore our deeply moving, comprehensive Polio Exhibit. The crown jewel of this collection is a genuine, lifesaving Iron Lung, generously gifted to our museum by TIRR Memorial Hermann out of Houston, Texas. We are deeply grateful to the Cuero Rotary Club for funding the specialized shipping of this massive medical artifact, and to our dedicated Museum Board for their relentless patience in securing it. 

• Visitor Notice: To ensure that absolutely everyone can experience this vital piece of medical history, we have permanently established the Polio Exhibit on our fully accessible first floor. 

Learn More About the History TIRR Memorial Hermann & Polio

The Fight Against Polio: A Triumph of Medicine & Community

During the first half of the 20th century, the United States faced one of its most terrifying public health crises: the devastating spread of poliomyelitis (polio). This highly contagious disease struck fear into families across the nation, paralyzed thousands of children annually, and overwhelmed local hospitals. Standing next to our historic TIRR Memorial Iron Lung, you are witnessing the front lines of a medical war that reshaped modern healthcare forever.

A President’s Battle & The National Foundation

The national fight against polio was championed by none other than President Franklin D. Roosevelt. Stricken by polio himself in 1921 at the age of 39, FDR refused to let the disease halt his leadership.

In 1938, he founded the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, famously known as the March of Dimes. In an era before massive government grants, this movement mobilized the everyday public. Millions of ordinary Americans—including families right here in South Texas—mailed dimes directly to the White House. This unprecedented grassroots fundraising campaign completely funded the care for thousands of patients in iron lungs and poured millions into critical scientific research.

 The Vaccine Breakthroughs: Salk & Sabin

The public's investment culminated in one of the greatest scientific triumphs in human history, led by two rival medical pioneers whose discoveries effectively eradicated polio from the Western world:

• Dr. Jonas Salk (1955): Funding from the March of Dimes directly supported Dr. Salk’s development of the world's first successful polio vaccine. Released to the public in 1955, Salk’s vaccine utilized an inactivated (killed) virus given via injection. Its announcement caused nationwide celebrations, with church bells ringing out across America.
• Dr. Albert Sabin (1961): Seeking an even more accessible method, Dr. Sabin pioneered an oral polio vaccine (OPV) using a live, weakened virus taken via a simple sugar cube or liquid drop. Approved in 1961, Sabin's oral vaccine provided long-term immunity and was incredibly easy to distribute to millions of schoolchildren globally.

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  The Legacy of the Iron Lung

Before these historic vaccines brought an end to the epidemics, the iron lung was a patient's only hope for survival. This massive negative-pressure ventilator mechanically forced paralyzed lungs to breathe, keeping patients alive days, weeks, or even lifetimes until their bodies could recover.

Our exhibit honors the brilliant scientists who unlocked the cure, the brave patients who fought for breath, and the collective generosity of everyday citizens who proved that a community's small change could literally change the world.