National Museum of Health and Medicine facts for kids
The new NMHM facility,
which opened on September 15, 2011. |
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| Established | 1862 (new building, 2011) |
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| Location | 2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, Maryland |
| Type | Medicine, Military medicine |
| Visitors | 40,000–50,000 annually |
| Public transit access |  Forest Glen |
The National Museum of Health and Medicine (NMHM) is a fascinating museum located in Silver Spring, Maryland. It's not far from Washington, D.C.. This museum was started way back in 1862 by William A. Hammond, who was the top doctor for the U.S. Army.
It was first called the Army Medical Museum (AMM). Later, in 1989, it became the NMHM. In 2011, the museum moved to its current home at the Army's Forest Glen Annex. The NMHM is part of the Defense Health Agency (DHA). It also belongs to the National Health Sciences Consortium.
Contents
History of the Museum
How it Started in the 1800s
The Army Medical Museum (AMM) began during the American Civil War. Its main goal was to collect medical items for research. This research focused on military medicine and surgery.
In 1862, Surgeon General Hammond told doctors in the field to collect "specimens of morbid anatomy." This meant gathering diseased body parts. They also collected "projectiles and foreign bodies removed" from soldiers. These items were sent to the new museum for study.
The first person in charge of the AMM was John H. Brinton. He visited battlefields and asked doctors for contributions. During and after the war, museum staff took pictures of wounded soldiers. These photos showed injuries from gunshots. They also showed the results of surgeries like amputations.
All this information was put into six books. These books were called The Medical and Surgical History of the War of the Rebellion. They were published between 1870 and 1883.
Research and Changes in the 1900s
In the late 1800s and early 1900s, AMM staff did important medical research. They were pioneers in taking pictures through microscopes. They also created a library and a system for organizing books. This system later became the basis for the National Library of Medicine (NLM).
The AMM also led research on infectious diseases. They even helped discover what caused yellow fever. They also worked on vaccines for typhoid fever. During World War I, AMM staff helped with vaccinations. They also ran health education campaigns.
By World War II, the museum's research focused more on studying diseases. In 1946, the AMM became part of the new Army Institute of Pathology (AIP). This institute later became the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP) in 1949.
The AMM's library and some of its old records moved. They went to the National Library of Medicine when it was created in 1956. The museum changed its name several times. It became the Medical Museum of the AFIP in 1949. Then it was the Armed Forces Medical Museum in 1974. Finally, it became the NMHM in 1989.
In the 1960s, the museum was very popular. It was located on the National Mall. Each year, 400,000 to 500,000 people visited. But after moving to less visible places, fewer people came. By the 1990s, only 40,000 to 50,000 visitors came each year.
The 2011 Move
The Walter Reed Army Medical Center closed down. Because of this, the National Museum of Health and Medicine had to move. This was its tenth move!
It relocated to the U.S. Army Garrison-Forest Glen. This is in Silver Spring, Maryland, in Montgomery County, Maryland. The museum closed its old exhibits on April 3, 2011. It then reopened in a brand new building on September 15, 2011. On October 1, 2015, the NMHM became part of the Defense Health Agency.
What the Museum Holds
Main Collections
The NMHM has five main collections. These collections include about 25 million items. There are 5,000 skeletal specimens (bones). There are also 8,000 preserved organs. The museum has 12,000 pieces of medical equipment. It also has many old medical documents. Other collections focus on the brain and how bodies develop.
The museum's most famous items are linked to President Abraham Lincoln. They relate to his assassination on April 14, 1865.
You can see a copy of Lincoln's life mask and hands. These were made in 1860. The museum also has the bullet that killed him. This bullet came from a Deringer pistol. You can also see the probe used by the Army Surgeon General. He used it to find the bullet during the autopsy. Pieces of Lincoln's hair and skull are also on display. There is even the autopsy surgeon's shirt cuff, stained with Lincoln's blood.
In 2010, the family of scientist Thomas Stoltz Harvey gave the museum something special. They transferred all of Albert Einstein's brain to the NMHM. This includes 14 photos of the whole brain. These photos had never been seen by the public before. You can also see a small part of John Wilkes Booth's spine. This was removed to get out the bullet that killed him.
The museum's collections include:
- Historical Collections: These show how medical tools have changed. They have over 12,000 items. These include x-ray machines, microscopes, and surgical tools.
- Anatomical Collections: These are made up of bones and body parts. There are over 5,000 skeletal items. There are also 10,000 preserved organs. They show how diseases and injuries affect the body.
- Otis Historical Archives: This section holds photos, drawings, and documents. They tell the story of medicine from the Civil War to today.
- Human Developmental Anatomy Center: This center has the largest collection of human embryo material in the U.S. They are known for making 3-D models of how embryos develop.
- Neuroanatomical Collections: These nine collections focus on the brains of humans and animals. They also show brain diseases.
Main Exhibitions
The museum's galleries have several permanent exhibits. They also have special exhibits that change over time.
One notable exhibit is “Trauma Bay II, Balad, Iraq.” This exhibit shows a part of an actual emergency room tent. This tent was used in Balad, Iraq, from 2003 to 2007. These military hospitals in Iraq had very high survival rates.
Other exhibits include:
- Anatomy and Pathology: These displays show healthy body parts. They help you learn what a healthy body looks like. You can then compare them to diseased parts. This helps understand how illnesses and injuries change the body.
- Collection that Teaches: This exhibit shows how the Army Medical Museum shared lessons. It collected information from battlefield medicine during the Civil War.
Past exhibits have included:
- To Bind Up the Nation's Wounds: Medicine During the Civil War: This exhibit showed Civil War medicine. It focused on battlefield surgeons and wounded soldiers.
- Evolution of the Microscope: This display traces how microscopes have developed. It covers the last 400 years.
- Battlefield Surgery 101: From the Civil War to Vietnam: This exhibit uses photos and items from the museum's past. It shows military surgery over 140 years.
- Abraham Lincoln: The Final Casualty of the War: This exhibit honored President Lincoln. It showed items from his last hours. It also featured the doctors who cared for him.
- Trauma Bay II, Balad, Iraq: This exhibit gives you a look inside a former Air Force hospital tent. It was used in Balad, Iraq.
- Resolved: Advances in Forensic Identification of U.S. War Dead: This exhibit highlights how science helps identify fallen U.S. service members.
Programs Offered
The museum offers many programs. These programs cover medical, scientific, and historical topics. They are for both children and adults.
Some of the programs include:
- Public Programs
- Tours
- Brain Awareness Week
Location and Hours
The museum is located at 2500 Linden Lane in Silver Spring, Maryland. It is about one mile outside of Washington, D.C.. All adult visitors need to show a photo ID.
The museum is open to everyone. It is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day. It is closed only on Christmas. Admission is free for everyone.
See also
