Find Hotels Near Spanish Military Hospital Museum Saint Augustine

The Spanish Military Hospital Museum in Saint Augustine is a unique and educational experience. Located in the heart of the city, this museum is part of an incredible complex that includes five buildings that were once part of a large arsenal constructed by the Spanish between 1726 and 1756. These buildings are now home to two museums, the Colonial Spanish Quarter and the Spanish Military Hospital Museum. The museum tells the story of hundreds of years of medical history and its impact on the City of St. Augustine with interactive exhibits, artifacts, photos, videos, and audio recordings.

The history of medical care in the area dates back to 1565 when St. Augustine was established as a permanent settlement by Pedro Menéndez de Avilés. At this time there were no medical facilities or resources available. But over time it became clear that a hospital was needed to care for those who had been wounded during battles or for those suffering from illness or disease; this led to the establishment of what is now known as The Spanish Military Hospital Museum in 1784. In its heyday, it housed up to 60 patients at any given time and included staff members such as surgeons and physicians who specialized in infectious diseases like yellow fever and malaria.

Today, visitors can explore three levels within the museum which feature exhibits exploring topics like early colonial medicine, military medicine during wars such as World War I & II, 18th century surgical tools and more modern treatments such as radiology/x-ray machines used during World War II. Additionally, visitors can explore two additional levels within each building which feature hands-on activities like trying on historical uniforms from different eras or handling reproductions of early medical instruments used in surgery or dentistry. There is also an auditorium with films about St Augustine’s rich medical history plus life-size reproductions inside one building which depict how medical personnel would have treated patients over 200 years ago!

The Spanish Military Hospital Museum provides not just education but also entertainment through costumed actors performing period pieces every Saturday morning between April through October where guests can journey into St Augustine’s past life with performances depicting different aspects from patient treatment to doctor’s lives at this historical facility back when it was still active in 1784! Whether you are interested in learning more about our nation's rich medical history or just looking for something fun to do while visiting Saint Augustine - The Spanish Military Hospital Museum has something for everyone!