Fodor's Expert Review National Museum of Health and Medicine
Founded in 1862, this museum chronicles the history and practice of American medicine—especially military medicine—over the centuries. It has one of the world's largest collections of microscopes and human remains. Because some exhibits are fairly graphic (with wax surgical models and preserved organs), the museum may not be suitable for young children or the squeamish, but may be perfect for teenagers. It's a rare opportunity to see the effects of different diseases on the human body. In the presidential display you'll see one of the most famous artifacts: the bullet that killed Abraham Lincoln. "Trauma Bay II" shows the floor of an emergency room of an Air Force tent hospital in Balad, Iraq during the Iraq War. In commemoration of the 150th anniversary of the Civil War, the museum is exhibiting artifacts and specimens from 1865. For up-to-date information check www.facebook.com/MedicalMuseum.