Visiting the National Museum of Health and Medicine, Washington, D. C.

Visiting the National Museum of Medicine and Health, Washington, D. C. was not really on my agenda when I moved in at Georgetown University in the nations capital. But, having four years dotted with many free afternoons, a few mini breaks and scores of weekends, I had plenty of chances for museum visits. It was only a question of time before I got around to the second or third tier of offerings. So with trips to the National Archives, the Smithsonian, the National Gallery of Art and all the monuments one could manage already salted away I agreed to accompany a friend to the most bizarre museum I have ever visited and also one of the most interesting.

Perhaps the trip seemed a little more reasonable because like my Georgetown University dormitory, the National Museum of Medicine and Health in Washington, D. C. is located in the north-west quadrant of the city at 6900 Georgia Avenue, adjacent to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. A second hurdle to the venture was cleared when I was told that admission was free. Not only could this be an interesting side trip for families on a budget, it was a great idea for curious students with little or no funding.

My memories of that visit are of an eclectic building with displays either looking like they had literally been pulled out of the passed that very day or were somehow just in the process of being created. The order and placement of exhibits was intriguing to say the least. Still the National Museum of Medicine and Health in Washington, D. C. did contain some very compelling bits of medical history especially for those who loved history or had an interest in medical phenomenon.

Where else can you see, close up and personal, the actual bullet that killed President Lincoln? Not only can you see the bullet but to add more realism to the display there are also pieces of Lincoln's remains. A ghoulish aspect of this same display is a plaster form of the president's hands and his head. We felt this was about as close as you could get to the actual assassination as you would care to and was actually a good follow up to what we had already seen at Ford's Theater.

Coming from the same time period, you could review lots of artifacts coming out of the Civil War. We were history nuts so we loved it but there was plenty to see for the curiosity seeker as well. Most memorable was a display of the leg bone of Civil War Gen. Daniel Sickles, that's right the actual leg bone. Adjacent is a facsimile of the cannon shot that pierced the leg and resulted in its amputation. We marveled at the sight but also questioned why and how the bone was saved and first came to be displayed.

Oddities abound at the National Museum of Medicine and Health, Washington, D. C. While it's not a great place for small children, tweens and teens will both be "freaked out" and amazed at what they can view. There is a gangrene leg, a giant fur ball and lots of skeletal remains. But there are also exhibits that are meant to increase awareness of current health issues.

Two suggestions if you plan to visit the National Museum of Medicine and Health are first it's probably not the place you want to go right before or right after lunch. Second, check in on the site before you visit as the Museum is in the process of being moved to Navy property in Bethesda, MD. When its fully moved it will still be a great museum take, but not quite as convenient to access - well at least not for students at Georgetown University.

Source: www.nlm.nih.gov