Skull with gunshot wound, Civil War era (National Museum of Health and Medicine)
Many of the scientific, medical, and technological innovations of the past two centuries have had their roots in military medicine. Spend a day led by Civil War medical historian and physician Jon Willen visiting two Maryland museums that promote the history of military medicine and examine its impact on present and future healthcare.
The first stop is the National Museum of Health and Medicine in Silver Spring. Founded in 1862 as the Army Medical Museum with a mission to better understand and improve the care of soldiers, during the Civil War it became a center for the collection of specimens used for research in military medicine and surgery. Today, its holdings include more than 25 million items. Docent-led tours offer views of objects such as the bullet that killed President Lincoln, the amputated tibia and fibula of Civil War General Daniel E. Sickles, and a skull of a soldier from the 54th Massachusetts Volunteer Infantry, as well as examples related to advances in contemporary military care.
In the afternoon, explore the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in historic Frederick, a town transformed into a vast hospital center in the aftermath of the nearby battles of South Mountain and Antietam. Volunteers guide visitors through five immersive exhibitions that highlight the challenges faced by Civil War-era doctors and surgeons, present the scope of period’s practices and developments, and connect them to modern medicine.
Enjoy a 3-course lunch in the historic district of Frederick.
