Our Story
In 1874, Dr. Warren Carter graduated from Atlanta Medical College and promptly relocated to quiet Winterville, Georgia. Here he had a simple wood-frame structure built on the town square, and it was in this building that he practiced medicine as the town’s doctor until his death in 1908.
12 years later another local doctor, Frank Coile, was looking for a new building to house his practice. Since Dr. Carter’s former office was available, he quickly moved in and returned the building to its healthcare roots.
The structure served in several local business roles after Dr. Coile’s death in 1941 before eventually reopening as the Carter-Coile Country Doctors Museum in 1972. Since that time, we’ve proudly been a place to explore the role that medicine has historically played in rural American communities.
Our Mission
The Carter-Coile Country Doctors Museum inspires curiosity about the history of rural American medicine by providing place-based experiences centered around authentic objects and stories. By deepening the historical understanding of public health and individual healthcare, our purpose is to serve all citizens and facilitate discussion of human problems that are common across time.
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Our Vision
The Carter-Coile Country Doctors Museum aspires to become a recognized cultural destination for exhibitions and programming that enrich the quality of life for residents of and visitors to Clarke County in general and Winterville in particular. We aim to serve our audience and stakeholders by fostering community, connection, and dialogue.
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Our Core Values
Vision
• Enriching individual and civic life through exhibitions and programs that are inspiring, challenging, and risk-taking
• Fostering a culture of creative, innovative thinking in our work
• Serving our community as a custodian of its social and material culture
Excellence
• Maintaining the highest standards for our collections, exhibitions, and programs
Inclusion
• Inviting many voices and presenting many points of view
Collaboration
• Working in partnership with stakeholders within the healthcare and cultural heritage fields to create an environment that is welcoming, accessible, and insightful
Accountability
• Transparent and careful stewardship of resources, including collections, facilities, investments, and staff