National Medical Museum to Host 150th Anniversary Grand Opening Open House at New Building in Silver Spring

May 14, 2012, Silver Spring, Md.: The National Museum of Health and Medicine, now located in Silver Spring, Md., will celebrate its 150th anniversary with a Grand Opening Open House, set for May 21, 2012 from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. The event is free and open to the public.

On May 21, 1862, Surgeon General William A. Hammond founded the Army Medical Museum (today's NMHM) and directed Union Army medical officers in the field to collect "specimens of morbid anatomy - together with projectiles and foreign bodies removed" and to forward them to the newly founded museum for study. The Grand Opening celebration is set to coincide with the exact date of the Museum's 150th anniversary.

"We're thrilled to be the newest oldest institution in Montgomery County," said Tim Clarke, Museum spokesman. "The Open House will feature hands-on activities for all ages. We hope our new neighbors will take advantage of this opportunity to celebrate with us on our very special anniversary."

NMHM's newest exhibit installations will showcase the institution's 25-million object collection, focusing on topics as diverse as innovations in military medicine, traumatic brain injury, anatomy and pathology, military medicine during the Civil War, the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln, human identification and a special exhibition on the Museum's own major milestone - the 150th anniversary of the founding of the Army Medical Museum. Objects on display will include familiar artifacts and specimens: the bullet that killed Lincoln and a leg showing the effects of elephantiasis, as well as recent finds in the collection - all designed to astound visitors to the new Museum.

Interested media representatives must call Melissa Brachfeld, NMHM Public Affairs Specialist, at (301) 319-3313 or email USArmy.Detrick.MEDCOM-USAMRMC.List.Medical-Museum@health.mil to register in advance to cover the event. Media representatives must present the following information: name, media organization, contact phone number and vehicle info (tags, year, make, and model).