Do I have a surprise for you all? I recently spent two weeks in Paris with the goal of visiting as many cool museums as I could. The first of these that I want to share with you is the Musée Curie. The first thing I want to note is that the museum is quite small, and there is a one-in one-out policy, which wasn’t the best on the rainy day I decided to visit. However, it was definitely worth it! Tucked away in the quiet 5th arrondissement of Paris, the Musée Curie is a hidden gem that offers a fascinating journey into the world of early 20th-century scientific discovery. Housed in the historic Radium Institute (where Marie Curie worked from 1914 until her death in 1934) the museum pays tribute to one of science’s most influential figures. The museum is broken up into four parts: The family with five Novel Prizes (A); Radium, between myth and reality (B); The Curie Laboratory, between physics and chemistry (C); and The Foundation Curie: treating cancer (D). See which of the different parts of the museum I have highlighted below, they’re not in order as my visit was non-linear. The modest exterior belies the richness of its content, and with free admission, it remains an accessible and rewarding stop for anyone with an interest in history, science, or both – especially as it is free to visit.

One of the highlights of the museum is the preserved and recreated laboratory of Marie Curie. Walking through to the viewing space, visitors can see original furniture and scientific instruments used in the early studies of radioactivity. The lab setup is simple yet powerful, offering an authentic glimpse into the environment where Curie and her colleagues isolated radium and polonium, an achievement that earned her the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1911. The laboratory area evokes the spirit of intellectual curiosity and tireless experimentation that defined Curie’s work. These spaces, meticulously decontaminated and reconstructed in 1981, remain filled with the atmosphere of discovery. Walking through them, visitors can see the very instruments, furniture, and workbenches that shaped the ground-breaking research on radium and polonium. It is one of those times when I wish I had a time machine to go back and experience the Curies working hard to understand the world around them, watch them as they meticulously experiment with different isotopes, and ultimately change the way we understand and think about the world around us. While the Curies were focused on a humanitarian and scientific potential of radioactivity (particularly in medicine), their research indirectly influenced the Manhattan Project despite the fact that the Joliot-Curies were politically opposed to the militarisation of science.

A cloud chamber is a classic particle detector (a kind of ‘cosmic photograph studio’ for subatomic particles) that allows you to see the otherwise invisible paths they trace. Invented by Scottish physicist Charles Wilson in 1911, it works by filling a sealed chamber with a supersaturated vapor, usually alcohol. When a charged particle, such as an alpha or beta particle, zips through, it ionises the gas along its path. The vapor condenses around these ions, forming tiny droplets, like the mist trail behind a jet. Under proper lighting, these trails appear as delicate, threadlike lines that reveal the particle’s direction, energy, and sometimes even its type. In Marie Curie’s time, the cloud chamber was an essential tool for exploring the nature of radioactivity and cosmic rays. It allowed scientists not just to infer particle behaviour from equations, but to see the evidence with their own eyes, an almost magical bridge between abstract physics and the physical world. Later refinements of the technique helped confirm key discoveries in particle physics, making the cloud chamber an iconic piece of 20th-century experimental science.

In July 1898, Marie and Pierre Curie announced their discovery of polonium, a new element they had identified while investigating the mysterious radiation emitted by uranium ores. Working with the mineral pitchblende, they noticed that even after removing all the uranium, the remaining material was still far more radioactive than uranium itself. Through meticulous chemical separation, they isolated a fraction containing an unknown, intensely radioactive substance. Marie named it polonium in honour of her native Poland, which at the time was partitioned and absent from the map of Europe. The discovery not only added a new element to the periodic table but also provided crucial evidence that radioactivity was an atomic property, tied to the very structure of matter. This insight helped lay the groundwork for modern nuclear physics and further cemented the Curies’ place in scientific history. In 1934, Irène Curie and Frédéric Joliot-Curie (continuing the scientific legacy of Marie and Pierre) discovered that stable elements could be made artificially radioactive, a breakthrough they demonstrated with radio-phosphorus. By bombarding aluminium with alpha particles emitted from polonium, they produced phosphorus-30, a radioactive isotope not found in nature. This was the first creation of artificial radioactivity, proving that radioisotopes could be generated in the laboratory rather than extracted from naturally radioactive minerals. The discovery revolutionised both science and medicine: artificial radio-phosphorus became a valuable tracer for studying chemical and biological processes and later found therapeutic use in treating certain diseases. For their pioneering work, the Joliot-Curies were awarded the 1935 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

In 1921, during a celebrated visit to the United States, Marie Curie was presented with a remarkable gift from President Warren G. Harding: a small mahogany box lined with lead, containing one gram of radium. At the time, radium was extraordinarily scarce and costly (valued at around $100,000 which is over a million dollars today), Marie had struggled to obtain enough for her research at the Radium Institute in Paris. American women’s groups, led by journalist and social activist Marie Meloney, organised a nationwide fundraising campaign to purchase the precious sample. The lead lining of the polished wooden box served to shield handlers from the radium’s intense radiation, while its elegant craftsmanship symbolised both scientific achievement and international goodwill. This gesture not only enabled Curie to continue her pioneering medical and scientific investigations but also became an enduring emblem of public support for women in science. This box is now in display in the museum with replicas of the glass tubes that held the radium.

The permanent exhibition tells the story of radioactivity through the lives and achievements of the Curie and Joliot-Curie families. It showcases scientific instruments used to isolate radioactive elements, early cancer-treatment devices, radium storage boxes, and cloud chambers. Alongside these are rare archival items: laboratory notebooks (although these are replicas as the originals are still radioactive) containing calculations and experimental notes, as well as correspondence, photographs, and family documents. One of the challenges posed to the museum which I have not encountered before is the fact that many of Marie Curie’s original laboratory notebooks and even her personal belongings, remain so radioactive that they must be stored in lead-lined boxes and handled only with the correct protective gear. Filled with meticulous data on her experiments with radium and polonium, these notebooks absorbed intense radiation over years of use in an era when the dangers of prolonged exposure were not yet understood. Today, they are preserved in the Bibliothèque nationale de France, where visitors and researchers can consult them only after signing a waiver and wearing the appropriate protective clothing. Their lingering radioactivity is a haunting reminder of both the physical risks Curie faced and her unwavering commitment to science, embodying the lasting power, and danger, of her discoveries.

Personal artefacts and multimedia displays help humanise the scientist behind the discoveries. On display (additional to Curie’s lab notebooks) are replicas of are family photographs, letters, and Nobel Prize documents. These archives include correspondence between Marie Curie and fellow scientists, notes exchanged with her daughter Irène and son-in-law Frédéric Joliot-Curie, and official papers related to the work of the Radium Institute. Many of the letters reveal the Curies’ collaborative spirit, their international scientific networks, and the challenges they faced in securing resources for research. Together, these documents not only preserve the historical context of the Curies’ discoveries but also showing the work, ambitions, and relationships beyond the laboratory bench of this truly remarkable family.

The museum also explores the practical applications of Curie’s research, particularly in the field of medicine. Exhibits illustrate the use of radioactive materials in cancer treatment and the evolution of radiotherapy. A notable section showcases early 20th century medical devices, including X-ray machines and radium therapy units. One particularly moving exhibit details Curie’s contribution to World War I, where she developed mobile X-ray units, known as ‘Petites Curies’, to assist battlefield surgeons. Additionally, Roentgen therapy, also known as X-ray therapy, is a form of radiation treatment that emerged in the early 20th century following Wilhelm Röntgen’s discovery of X-rays in 1895. Initially celebrated for its ability to penetrate the body and reveal internal structures, X-rays were quickly adapted for medical treatment, particularly in targeting cancerous tumours and certain skin conditions. Early practitioners often worked with rudimentary equipment and limited understanding of radiation’s long-term effects, leading to significant risks for both patients and medical staff. Over time, advancements in dosage control, beam focusing, and protective measures transformed roentgen therapy into a more precise and safer modality. Today, it forms part of the historical foundation of modern radiotherapy, bridging the pioneering experiments of the late 19th century with the highly sophisticated, targeted radiation treatments used in contemporary oncology.

Curietherapy (named in honour of Marie Curie) refers to a form of brachytherapy in which sealed radium sources are placed directly into or very close to a tumour, delivering concentrated doses of radiation while sparing surrounding healthy tissue. Developed in the early 20th century, it became one of the first targeted treatments for certain cancers, particularly of the skin, cervix, and head and neck. Radium teletherapy, by contrast, positioned the radium source at a distance from the patient, using specially designed apparatus to direct gamma rays toward the tumour from outside the body. Both methods represented major advances over earlier, less controlled uses of radiation. While radium has since been replaced by safer isotopes and more precise machines, curietherapy and radium teletherapy laid the groundwork for modern radiation oncology, demonstrating that carefully planned doses could shrink tumours and extend lives.

In the early 20th century, radium was hailed as a wonder substance and found its way into a wide range of applications, both scientific and commercial. In medicine as we have already looked at, it was used in pioneering cancer treatments. However, its glow-in-the-dark properties led to its use in luminous paints for watch dials, instrument panels, and signage. These innovations were especially valued during World War I. Beyond these practical uses, radium also became a fashionable ingredient in consumer products, appearing in cosmetics, tonics, toothpaste, and even cigarettes, marketed for their supposed health benefits. This enthusiasm was fuelled by limited understanding of radiation’s long-term dangers, and while it spurred genuine advances in science and industry, it also led to serious health consequences for workers and consumers, a sobering chapter in the history of radioactivity.

A section of the museum is dedicated to the broader Curie family, which includes an extraordinary lineage of Nobel laureates. Alongside Marie and Pierre Curie’s accomplishments, the museum honours the work of their daughter Irène and son-in-law Frédéric Joliot-Curie, who won the Nobel Prize in Chemistry in 1935 for their discovery of artificial radioactivity. The museum offers a calm, almost contemplative atmosphere that contrasts with the buzz of the Parisian streets. Nestled within a quiet courtyard, it feels more like a sanctuary than a traditional museum. Its compact size makes it easy to navigate in less than an hour, and with a small gift shop that provides books (some of which helped me to write this blog), educational materials, and science-themed souvenirs. To me, the Musée Curie is more than a collection of exhibits, it’s a deeply personal and historic site that stands as a monument to scientific perseverance and human achievement, similar to how Down House is for the story of Charles Darwin.

Marie Curie’s story of resilience, intellect, and humanitarianism continues to inspire visitors from around the world. The building itself is designated a Monument Historique, adding a layer of national heritage to its global scientific importance. For those seeking a meaningful and enlightening experience in Paris, the Musée Curie is highly recommended. It offers a rare opportunity to connect with the legacy of a woman who fundamentally reshaped our understanding of the natural world. Whether you’re a science enthusiast, history lover, or simply curious traveller, this museum is an unforgettable stop. The bilingual signage (French and English) ensures that international visitors can engage fully with the exhibits. If you haven’t already seen it, I suggest you watch the Marie Curie biopic Radioactive where Rosamund Pike plays Curie, especially if the contents of this blog are new to you.

References

Huchette, N. & Maiani, C. (2019). The Radium Saga: The Musée Curie Notebooks. Musée Curie: Paris, France.

Huchette, N. (2022). A Stroll Through Paris with Pierre and Marie Curie: The Musée Curie Notebooks. Musée Curie: Paris, France.

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