National Museum of Health and Medicine

The National Museum of Health and Medicine is a history museum in Silver Spring holding medical objects, instruments, and documents. The collections range from surgical tools and prosthetics to research materials and show how medical practice changed over centuries.

The museum started during the Civil War to collect and preserve medical knowledge from battlefields. From this military medical collection grew a broader archive of medical history.

The displays show how medical techniques developed during wartime and later helped civilians too. You see not just equipment, but also learn about the people behind these discoveries and how their work changed healthcare.

Entry is free and the museum is open Wednesday through Sunday from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM. It is easy to reach and has adequate parking for visitors.

The museum holds artifacts from every major US conflict, including rare records of how soldiers recovered from wounds. These personal accounts reveal a lesser-known side of military history.

Location: Montgomery County

Inception: 1862

Address: Linden Lane

Phone: +(301)3193300

Website: https://medicalmuseum.mil

GPS coordinates: 39.00880,-77.05340

Latest update: December 22, 2025 19:35