So You Want to Go to The National Museum of Health and Medicine

So this was a fun one! I must admit that this museum was an add on trip for an out of town stay, but I'm definitely glad I took the time to check it out. The NMHS is nestled in Silver Springs Maryland. The museum was established during the Civil War as the Army Medical Museum, but has evolved into a way to preserve the impact of medicine through history. Sporting free admission and guided tours, you truly have an opportunity to take a peek into world class collections and the advancement of medicine.

This facility is observing COVID regulations. A temperature check is required upon entry, and masks are required for any patrons over the age of two. There is currently one way directional traffic to minimize contact with other guests and support social distancing. I felt fully confident in how diligent the staff was and the cleanliness of the building with several sanitizing stations within reach, and limited occupancies within exhibits.

There are sectioned exhibits within the museum but the first thing you see when you walk in is a giant skeleton! There's quite a deal of information to take in reading through the museum, and even more interesting specimens to see.

The museum collections feature historical, anatomical, neuroanatomical, and human developmental anatomy. The focus is on American Medicine with documents and archives from well known war leaders including hospital records, journal entries, and historic memorabilia. Speaking of memorabilia, the bullet that killed former president Lincoln is showcased here-wow.

For a side quest, I found the NMHS to be intriguing, informative, and pretty captivating. While some of the specimens and pieces aren't for the faint of heart, I feel like that is part of what makes this museum unique. If you're ever up that way, looking for something new to do, or really find yourself interested in what makes the body tick; I believe you'll enjoy what this historic place has to offer.