Fascinating Artifacts

Walter Reed Army Hospital--the original building.
Behind it is the newer Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

One of more than 15 display cases chronicling the history and development
of the microscope--the pathologist's best friend.

Death mask and hand casts of President Abraham Lincoln,
as well as artifacts related to his assassination.

Last week, I posted a bit about prosthetics and the young men and women who rehabilitate at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. This week, I wanted to show you a little more from the National Museum of Health and Medicine at WRAMC. The museum was founded in 1862 "to study and improve medical conditions during the American Civil War." As I mentioned previously, the museum is open to the public and houses exhibits not only on advances in medicine as a result of breakthroughs on the field of war and post-war care, but also historical artifacts from pivotal moments in American history.

For example, there is a display case that contains the bullet from the gun of John Wilkes Booth that killed President Abraham Lincoln, as well as Mr. Lincoln's death mask and casts of his hands at the time he died. There is the shattered leg bone of General Daniel E. Sickles who was wounded in the Battle of Gettysburg. Legend has it that after the war, Gen. Sickles would ride up to Walter Reed to visit his leg. Sickles was also the first person to employ an insanity defense during his trial for the murder of Francis Scott Key's son, Philip Barton Key. He was acquitted. The museum also features more then 15 cases detailing the evolution of the microscope--an important tool in the diagnosis of disease and evaluation of criminal evidence.

If you're looking for something unusual to see in D.C., the museum at Walter Reed is a definite must-see! Please note: Flash photography is not allowed in the museum, so make sure you take a tripod along if you're going to take pictures. And, if you're interested in venturing a little further afield, take a Saturday or Sunday and drive up to Philadelphia for the day and visit the Mutter Museum.


Photo copyright: D.C. Confidential, 3/08