U.S. Army Medical Museum
The mission of the U.S. Army Medical Department Museum is to collect, preserve, exhibit, and interpret historically significant property related to the history of the Army Medical Department from 1775 to the present. As an educational institution, the museum will support training and education for military and civilian personnel.
The Museum campus occupies 7 acres of grounds, including the main museum building, a covered, restored hospital train car, and two pergolas, one containing modern wheeled ambulances and one containing helicopters. A Medal of Honor Walk recognizes the 50 Medal of Honor recipients from the U.S. Army Medical Department, winding through the museum grounds and leading to a 250-seat outdoor amphitheater.
The galleries and outdoor exhibit areas tell the 200-plus year history of the U S Army Medical Department, in war and peace, emphasizing subjects such as battlefield medicine, the chain of patient evacuation, the evolution of the 8 different corps that compose the Army Medical Department and the evolution of equipment, medical care and treatment from 1775 to the present day.
The buildings are in the "Spanish Revival" architectural style, with mission tile roofs and fountain courts, in keeping with the historic buildings at Fort Sam Houston. Large stone medallions representing the seals of the six commissioned corps, enlisted corps, and civilian corps decorate the facade.
Admission free
| Monday | 1000 – 1600 |
|---|---|
| Tuesday | 1000 – 1600 |
| Wednesday | 1000 – 1600 |
| Thursday | 1000 – 1600 |
| Friday | 1000 – 1600 |
| Saturday | Closed — |
| Sunday | Closed — |
The U.S. Army Medical Department (AMEDD) Museum is a Federal Government facility that is free and open to all JBSA personnel, students, residents, and their families.
Saturday will be reserved for training classes only, no other guests permitted on Saturdays at this time.
We will strictly adhere to a 50% capacity limit for all indoor activities. This means a total of 250 visitors at any given time will be permitted in the museum building.
All outdoor exhibits will be open as well. The outdoor areas are not limited as long as social distancing is maintained.
The museum follows all directives of the MEDCoE, JBSA command, and local health officials in order to determine when the limits can be removed and the general public may return.
Visitors coming to the museum without Joint Base San Antonio access credentials: refer to the Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) website for current base entry requirements.
Please note that the museum does not determine what the base entry requirements are. We are also not informed when access procedures change. Visiting the JBSA website is the most certain way to get the latest base entrance requirements.
The museum experience is self-guided. Museum docents provide guided tours to Soldiers going through medical training at Fort Sam Houston. At present there are no established public tour times, and group tours should be coordinated in advance, although they are also self-guided.
A frequently asked question is “How long does it take to go through your museum?” The answer varies greatly depending on the visitors’ level of interest in Army Medicine. Most visitors should plan to spend at least 1 ½ hours. Visitors who have a great interest in the subject matter have spent over 4 hours in the museum exhibit galleries and outdoor exhibit areas.
The history of the Army Medical Department is the compelling story of those soldiers whose mission is to preserve life. Our exhibits are primarily designed for an adult audience, and although they contain artifacts and graphics that may be entertaining and enlightening for young persons who are interested in the health sciences, this institution was not designed as a “hands-on” science museum.
