National Museum of Civil War Medicine

A rather small museum but certainly educational. The staff is very engaging and informative

Lots of interesting exhibits here at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in historic Frederick, MD. Most Civil War museums focus on the battles or weapons or famous generals for instance but the main focus here is obviously 19th century battlefield healthcare and medicine which is a unique aspect of Civil War history. The building is easily accessible and features elevators and stairs to get you to the different levels. There is a gift shop with sweet merch. Definitely check this one out!

Informative, really well laid out with excellent exhibits and cool merch. Very good docents. Great photos.

Cute little museum downtown Frederick. Staff and volunteers are nice and eager to answer questions. Takes about 1-2hr to go through depending on how much you want to read. The easiest and closest parking is Caroll parking garage.

Such a great place and so informative. Do yourself a favor and give yourself plenty of time to read all the small exhibits.

Very educational museum. Plan on spending two hours if you want to read everything. Interesting to learn about the history of hospital systems, ambulances, education of doctors, and nursing. Public parking lot in the rear by the library.

Really cool unusual museum in the heart of historic Fredrick. Does a great job of detailing the fascinating history of the medical care during the civil war. They exhibits are informative and highly artistic!

So much history in such a small place. Only took an hour and an half to see everything. Personally I would have stayed longer to read more, but my husband who isnt big on museum was ready to go after an hour. Handicap accessible, public parking garage right behind it. Also very close walking distance to the park and shops in the area.

Located in the building where many of Antietam's dead were embalmed, the museum has really neat displays of various Civil War scenes. The displays bring to life what the soldiers experienced all those years ago. The exhibits helped dispel many of the myths regarding Civil War medicine.

What a fascinating and informative museum inside a historic building once used to treat soldiers during the Civil War. After paying just over $9 for an adult ticket, I wandered up the stairs (there's an elevator too) to the second floor to begin the self-guided tour. Across two floors, the exhibits do an excellent job of engaging visitors and debunking myths about the Civil War and medicine. For example, most operations during the war used anesthetics. The Civil War invented many modern medical practices like the triage system and modern hospitals. The museum also humanizes medical people during the war, the wounded, and others. There's even an exhibit about women who disguised themselves as men to enlist. There are a few fun surprises like two hallways decorated with impressive murals, an exhibit about sanitation in the Civil War in the restrooms, and a discount code at the large gift shop if you fill out a survey on the iPad outside the exhibit exit. If you're into history, don't miss this small museum. Staff are on every floor more than willing to help bring the exhibits to life.

Super affordable and Interesting place - not overwhelming but plenty of information to take in. I like museums and this was done well and larger then I expected from the outside. They had a lot of personally documented stories from survivors and surgeons from the civil war.. Family friendly with a cute little shop.

Well this might not sound like the worlds most interesting place but it is pretty interesting especially if you've already been to Gettysburg and Antietam. It fills in the gaps. The dioramas are well designed and the museum turned out to be bigger than I first thought it was. There is parking garage next door and it's reasonably priced.You'll come away knowing more about 19th Century amputations and anesthesia than you ever wanted to know!

A friend and I visited the National Museum of Civil War Medicine when we were in Frederick for a day a few weeks ago. I really enjoyed the visit (as much as you can enjoy a visit to a Civil War medicine museum). It was informative; I learned a lot! And it was large enough to be interesting but manageable enough that our visit took just enough time. I'm not the biggest Civil War buff; I don't visit battlefields or many Civil War sites or read books about it (although I have watched the Ken Burns documentary, of course), but I really found the museum interesting and informative. Definitely worth a visit if you're in Frederick and are interested.

We've follow civilwarmed on Instagram for a while now and finally had a chance to check it out. It lived up to the hype (we created in our heads) and did not disappoint. Very well done. Excellent collection of personal stories and great photos from the Civil War.

Right in the heart of Downtown Frederick, it's a little museum very focused on its topic. It's only got two floors with a few rooms each, but they stuff a lot in there. You get a sense of the medical profession, the challenges the soldiers faced, the politics of it, and one last bit on how medicine evolved out of what they were doing then to today. They're very defensive about the popular notion that surgeons amputated limbs too frequently; it's a topic that's covered repeatedly. They have a nice gift shop with a lot of themed drinks and candies as well as the usual small-niche books and Civil War paraphernalia (for both sides; the museum does talk about both in its materials). They make frequent references to the National Museum of Health and Medicine, a broader-scoped museum that is a rather nice overview of military medicine. They also talk a lot about Clara Barton, who has not one but two museums in and around the District devoted to her. For anyone really interested in the subject matter, all of these places are not that far and have more to offer (and two are are free). That being said, it costs money and it's by no means essential, but this museum out in Frederick is a nice way to spend an hour if you are here and want something indoors to do.

We enjoyed the museum very much on it's own but our experience was enhanced by the physician- historian- docent, Dr. Hill. The exhibits are varied and each lends depth, bredth, and perspective in understanding this era.

Oh, I literally tore off the highway when I saw the sign for this museum. I loved learning about the history and the modernization of medicine. My girls were fascinated by the displays. My dad, a huge Civil War buff, couldn't get enough. Big plus that there's benches all over for my dad. The gift shop was an unexpected treat! The kids loved buying stuffed animals of infamous diseases. Highly recommend!

Highly recommended stop for families to visit together. It's convenient, educational, affordable and easy to locate. Most kids are excited to explore medical history and want to spend time viewing the exhibits. There's plenty inside to keep adults researching topics of interest before and after your visit. Supplemental materials such as recorded expert talks on special events and topics are available online.

Informative with lots of interesting artifacts. It was a little overwhelming, but I liked the personal stories of individual doctors, nurses, and soldiers. I would've liked to see some artwork like original photographs and paintings from the period on the walls, and hope they can add them in the future. The docent at the beginning of the exhibits was a bit superfluous and cringey. He told us tired sexist jokes about giving the museum map to the woman in our group, and then gave us a way too detailed description of the route through the exhibits. We were intelligent enough to find our way without the directions. They did have a mummified arm that was found at Antietam years later by a farmer, but they have it in a case beside the janitor's closet. They need to put that thing out front and center.

The Minié Ball had the capability to kill at over 1,000 yds. The soft lead bullet caused splintered bones, and destroyed muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and tissues beyond any repair. Soldiers with head or body shots were usually not expected to live. In the 1870s, doctors urged an international ban on soft-lead bullets, saying they caused the same sort of damage as explosive bullets. The Minie ball came to America from Europe, where it was improved by James Burton, an armorer at the U.S. Arsenal in Harpers Ferry, Virginia (now West Virginia). The minie ball was actually conical in shape, not a ball. Two different-size Minie´ balls were used: The Harpers Ferry rifle fired a .69 caliber round, while the Springfield design used .58 caliber. Burton's version of the new ammunition was adopted for use by the U.S. Army by Secretary of War Jefferson Davis, the future president of the C.S.A. So what happens if a soldier got shot with one of this bullets? The surgeon would wash out the wound with a cloth (usually already blood stained) and enter the wound with their finger or a probe to check for broken bones or a torn blood vessels. If this was the case, amputation was the #1 plan of action. At this point chloroform (their form of anesthesia) was administered to the patient by using a cloth to cover their nose/mouth. The surgeon used a scalpel and make an incision from the skin, through muscle, to bone. Incisions were made both above and below, leaving a flap of skin on one side. Bonesaws cut through the bone until it was severed and toss it into a pile of limbs. Arteries were then tied off with either horsehair, silk, or cotton threads. The surgeon would scrape the bone smooth, so it would not work back through the skin. The flap of skin was pulled across and sewed close, leaving a drainage hole. The stump would be covered with isinglass plaster and bandaged. A "good surgeon" could amputate a limb in less than 10 mins. Amputation performed within 24 to 48 hours after injury was considered a "primary amputation." A "secondary amputation" was one performed more than three days after injury.

Great little museum with a narrow focus. The exhibits are interesting and well thought out. There were interactive components. Highlights about women and minorities as well as children in there war. The stuff was friendly and helpful. The gift shop has fun memorable. We got a groupon which made the price very reasonable. Kids are free under 9 years old.

I can't believe I've lived in Northern Virginia for 3.5 years and had not been to Frederick, Maryland yet....this place is awesome. My husband and I love all the Revolutionary and Civil War history in this area. The National Museum of Civil War Medicine did not disappoint, considering this museum was started from a private collection, I was really impressed with the size and detail of the exhibits. I also really liked the soldiers' perspective provided through letters....one soldier whose letters were on display was from my homestate of Maine; so that made an immediate connection for me. The staff are super friendly and one was dressed for the period and really knowledgeable on modern medicine's derivations from the Civil War....such as the advent of hospital campuses. Definitely check this place out the next time you are in Frederick. Oh, and look for a Groupon to save a few bucks. Then go across the street to the Tenth Ward Distillery to try some delicious cocktails. :-)

The staffs do provide worksheets for students & kids to answer several questions! So wonderful! And the staffs also give a guide book while browse the exhibits! So fabulous museum! It's very much decorating and it does have gift shop.

I had family in town and needed an excuse to stroll around downtown Frederick and look at the new artistic "keys" set about. I have driven by and heard about the National Museum of Civil War Medicine for years. It was time to venture in. My folks got a senior discount, as did the kids as students. I think it was a mere $7 or so for adults. I thought it would be a decent experience. However, the exhibits and artifacts found there, and how they were displayed and provided to us on the "self tour" were well above my expectations. The whole group, from my 7 year old daughter, to my father, found everything of interest. It's basically devoted to use and advances of medicine in the last 1800's. There is an on-going story you can follow of one soldier. Life size portrayals. The death, destruction and disfigurement of many soldiers can be a bit hard to swallow at times but an important part of our history to explore and realize. It's definitely worth a trip inside! Give yourself at least an hour, but you could spend much much more time there, or get in and out fairly quick if you are just popping in to see what it's all about. It's much larger inside then you think. 3 stories of exhibits. Museum Hours Monday-Saturday 10 am - 5 pm, Sunday 11 am - 5 pm Closed New Year's Day, Easter Sunday, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day

Going in I had very low expectations, but after my hour plus tour of the facilities, I realized that the admittance fee was cheap in comparison to my learning experience. Great job to the national Museum of Civil War medicine. This is a must stop attraction for anyone in Frederick Maryland if for only a day.

I have been trying to get here for a few years, but when I'm in Frederick I usually have my young grandchildren with me. Finally I was able to come without children (school day). My suspicion was correct, young children would not like the museum. Perhaps middle school and older children would find it interesting I was fascinated by the collection of Civil War era medical equipment they have. Anyone in the medical fields would love this museum While I was there group of med school students were on tour. I'm sure they appreciated the advances that have been made in medicine over the years

The people at the front desk are very kind and helpful. It's a self guided tour so you can go at your own pace. The woman at the front desk gave my kids an activity to do through out so they would be interacting with the exhibits. The exhibits themselves were very detailed. There are 2 floors so there is plenty to see. Parking is a little difficult but we got lucky and were able to park right out front. Definitely something worth seeing. We had a great time.

As someone intrigued by the development of medical techniques as well as the history of the Civil War, a stop at the National Museum of Civil War Medicine was a must while in Frederick MD. For the most part it was what I expected. Probably not something for kids as some of the pictures and exhibits can be a bit graphic (one a photo of amputated limbs still haunts me). The museum is not that big but it is informative. It's fascinating to see the advancements made during this time (both horrifying and helpful) as well as the understanding of things like infection, sterility and changes made to surgical procedures. Expect lots of reading. I think we made it through the whole place in about an hour or so. Falls between 3 and 4 stars.

I loved this place! but, then, I am a nerd. I am NOT even an avid Civil War enthusiast, I should point out -- I just like smaller, quirky museums, and I like to find out some of the history of the places I visit. So when I knew I was visiting the Frederick area, I checked out Yelp (yay, Yelp!), and took some recommendations. Anyway..... Go here! We were greeted by two staff members working the desk who had strong opinions about mid-nineteenth-century medicine. (I mentioned my real headache, as we entered, and asked whether they sold anything for it -- suggesting maybe morphine, or leeches....?--as a feeble, pain-hampered joke. One staffer promptly replied that morphine would require a doctor's prescription, and leeches were no longer used in the Civil War era. Yikes.) A docent clad in a Union uniform led us to the second floor, where the main exhibit began, and gave us a brief but extremely clear and thorough orientation. The two floors of exhibits we made our way through, aided by excellent placards and handouts, and enhanced by audio, video, and numerous well-done dioramas, honestly moved us. (The museum used the laudable tactic of investing us in the fate of a single solider. By the end, we were dying to know what happened to him. Readers, he lived! and married, and had many children -- and, according to the staff, had descendants represent him in a visit to the museum last year!!) Forward!! if you're even vaguely interested in the history of the Civil War, and you find yourself nearby....

This was a great discovery. We had lived in Frederick 7 years and have passed by the museum often. What a surprise to see what wonderful displays are inside. The bookstore in the front of the museum has the best collection of Civil War books I have seen. They sell Flying Dog beer too!

This was a extremely awesome and interesting place to go to and visit. It was my second time here. The museum and it Exhibits is super clean and well organized and the staff

I went to the National Museum of Civil War Medicine with a friend several weeks ago. I wouldn't have known about this museum had it not been for the voucher I saw on Groupon. The museum was worth the trip. I walked away feeling like I truly learned something. The museum "talked" about how medicine (specifically, doctors and nurses) played a part in pre and post the Civil War. There were a lot of facts I hadn't even considered such as the number of deaths that occurred after the Civil War due to injuries from the war. I wouldn't recommend this museum for small children. The exhibits aren't very interactive. It is a lot of reading. The collection is much larger than you'd expect. The gift shop is meh. If you want to go shopping Frederick, MD has a downtown with a number of boutique like shops and restaurants. It was a little chilly the day we went to the museum so we didn't take advantage of all the window shopping. Had been warmer outside we would have spent more time wandering in and out of shops. In a nutshell, if you're looking for something off the beaten path and are have been there done that with the Smithsonian museums it is worth the trip and is a nice place to spend an afternoon.

You can pop this museum out in about an hour. It's a $10 ticket, and then you take and elevator to the top floor, walk around, and then hit up the bottom floor (skip the gift shop and BOOM! Done. Most museums have a broader topic, but this is only 4 years of medical history, and only within the war, so there isn't THAT much to cover. But what they cover, they do very well. The exhibits are creative, there are life-size models, artifacts, plenty of stories and information, some audio, and even the halls are painted like a medical boxcar. And it IS medical, so blood-o-hobes beware (amputation diagrams) Overall, very good for the price and time, especially if your wife is a nurse AND a history nut like mine!

I think the title of this place scares off potential visitors, but in all honesty, it's a very cool museum. It takes about an hour to go through, (or two if you are with your medical industry father in law...) and is very visual and interactive. It's the type of museum where you say "huh!" And, "how did I not know that?" As you walk around and read plaques. While their focus is very specific you really do get a feel for what it must have been like living in the area during the civil war. If you are from the area, you'll gain an ever bigger appreciation for the beautiful churches in our downtown as you view photos of how they were used as hospitals, with boards over the pews. It amazes me that injured soldiers, no matter what side they were fighting for, were treated in side by side beds. This museum is definitely worth the admission and taking the time to walk around. I find it's a great rainy day activity when we have guests in town and going to the battlefields isn't an option.

We used a $10 Groupon for two adult tickets, and easily got our money's worth. Despite it being relatively small, I was surprised by the size and diversity of their collection. Their signage had many interesting facts and anecdotes, some of which were interactive. There are a few exhibits that you may want to skip if you're squeamish or with young children, but most are 'safe' for any audience. We exhausted the whole museum in a little over two hours -- so I don't feel the need to go back, but I'm certainly glad I went.

The National Museum of Civil War Medicine is an interesting place to spend a few hours! We were there a little over 2 hours and that seemed a good amount of time to make our way through the museum and read most of the exhibit signs. The price is $9.50 for adults. I thought the information presented was very interesting, especially gaining a perspective on the impact that the Civil War had on the field of medicine worldwide. The staff at the museum was incredibly friendly. There was a knowledgeable man dressed up who was there to answer questions. He gave a good overview of the different rooms, and I could have listened to him talk for much longer. This is clearly a topic he is very passionate about. Worth a visit if you are in the area, especially if you are into history, public health, or medicine.

I am so glad that I stopped in! This is a great little museum on an important set of topics, not limited to medicine. As a female, I was impressed by the depth of information gathered and displayed about women in the war, both as soldiers and healers. This is a text heavy museum so if you like lots of interactive touch screens and recorded narration, this may be too much work for you. That said, the dioramas were fantastic (though some of the songs playing in the background got so repetitive that I wished for earplugs). Great museum for history buffs. Check it out. And PS: the staff was fantastic. Friendly, inviting and non intrusive. Perfect.

Quiet museum within the main street of a small town. Bit pricey-think it was $10.50 per adult? They do have senior and AAA discount though. 2 floors of exhibits. If you're into American history and/or science/medicine this place is for you. Parking garage right behind the museum, about $1-$1.50 per hour.

What a gem in the middle of historic downtown Frederick! We went for a day tripwith my bf and his grandmother. Deceivingly large on the inside - you can't tell from the outside. So many engaging exhibits, complete with surround sound and wall-to-wall props and paintings. Very cool. The period costume historians were helpful and knowledgeable and gave a lot of extra info we found interesting. There is an elevator for accessibility and they sell the new Civil War themed beer by Dogfish head. One eerie and cool thing that is almost out of the way in an exhibit is an actual human arm from Antietam.

This is a must-visit when you are in Frederick. The museum has a small store-front but the building goes quite deep. The exhibits are well-organized & placed in the order that you should view them. (Refer to the provided map if needed.) Each exhibit area has a theme - recruiting, camp life, etc. for easy reference. For younger children, there is a scavenger hunt worksheet to keep up their interest while helping them learn about medicine in the civil war. My 11 year-old love it! It took us about 2 hours to go through the exhibits since we read most if not all of the information plaques. For about the price of a movie ticket, you can learn much about Civil War medicine so I highly recommend it!

Very well done museum depicting development and realities of medical practice before, during, and after the Civil War. Give yourselves 3 hours+ if you are avid readers of placards. We drove out of our way, on the way to Washington DC, and it was well worth it!

Pros: Complimentary parking on the weekends. Through explanation of each exhibit, which spans two floors. Cons: Information wasn't too informative.

This museum contains historically inaccurate displays, of which my father and I politely spoke to an employee about, and was yelled at immediately. This made for, what should have been a pleasant outing, a disaster. My father possesses a vast knowledge of Civil War history; however, whether anyone was factually right or wrong, no one deserves such ill treatment.

Took my family to this museum during our walk around downtown Frederick. Even though it's small and really quick to complete, its set up very well and there is a nice atmosphere to the whole place. The displays are realistic and many of them have some neat audio clips to add to the scenarios. The information is laid out very well, and there are neat little wooden doors and cards that offer really interesting tidbits of information and trivia. Some aspects of the exhibit are interactive - such as allowing one to lift equipment or weapons that the troops would have carried or standing next to cutouts of short and tall troops to see just how they stood in comparison to you. What my brother and I enjoyed the most was the bits of information on what types of medicines were given for various ailments and how those medicines affected the ailing. Many of said medicines killed the very patients they were meant to treat. It was also pretty sobering to see what the troops were affected by and how likely they were to die from certain things that didn't even involve combat. And the nurses dealt with a heck of a lot as well. I also really loved the chests and wagon displays with the cases and jars of medical ointments, salves, etc. There are also life size displays of things like the wagons used for transport. Overall, a pretty neat place to go with your family. I feel it was set up very well and has some really cool displays and information.

This is a fascinating museum that can be seen in 2 to 3 hours. I gave it only 4 stars because it will get even better in the future as more artifacts and knowledge are accumulated and displayed. It will grow into a 5 star museum. I thoroughly enjoyed seeing and reading about the displays. My Great Great Grandfather was wounded at Chancellorsville during the battle in Gen. Stonewall Jackson's flanking action. I have his written account of his wound and recovery. He eventually was prominent in the Washington, DC, GAR. I have his discharge papers from the Union Army and his pension papers up to 1937. The museum sort of brought his experiences more "alive" for me. I had a great visit.

We loved this museum more than we thought we would! We loved all the interactive displays and "life-sized" scenes with sound effects. There are a few medical photos/illustrations that may disturb younger kids if they notice them. Otherwise, this place is great for kids maybe 10 and up.

Great Museum! The place looks small from the street, but actually is quite large inside. they really broke down some myths for me and my kids loved it. We met a docent there that really made things interesting and their bookstore if incredible. We will be going back to see their other Museum at Antietam this fall.

it's okay. i thought that they could do a little more with it. in fact, i always thought that frederick was doing itself a disservice by not positioning itself more as a tourist gateway to the surrounding civil war historical sites. i guess they kind of do, but it's more of an afterthought. while i am thinking of it, frederick could really even do a lot more with military medicine in general, not just civil war military medicine, what with ft. detrick right there and other stuff like bethesda and the uniformed services medical school so close by. but, what the heck do i know?

Very well laid out and informative museum. The subject is often overlooked and its importance is vital to the understanding of the development of medicine. Its a very good museum with great easy to understand exhibits. The staff are very knowledgeable and helpful. Check it out.

This museum has been around and growing for a long time. Behind the exhibits are the dedicated research efforts of professional and amateur historians. Their conferences are first-rate and real learning experiences for medical professionals and "civilians" alike. Besides that, they are fun and the tours that are part of the conferences are great. You won't find a nicer, more helpful group of people anywhere. Their re-enactments and events (such as cigar and whiskey-tastings) are a great intro to Civil War history and life.