Entry No. 1 — the Washington, D.C. file — filed under: history
National Museum of Health and Medicine
A Defense Health Agency museum that keeps the actual bullet fired from John Wilkes Booth's Derringer, fragments of Lincoln's skull and hair, and the autopsy surgeon's blood-stained shirt cuff — alongside the sectioned tumor that killed Ulysses S. Grant and 8,000 preserved organs from the museum's Civil War-era anatomical collections.
The story
In 1862, U.S. Army Surgeon General William A. Hammond ordered field officers to start shipping back specimens of morbid anatomy, shattered bones, and unusual medical cases directly from Civil War battlefields. What began as a grim military research archive—the Army Medical Museum—eventually evolved into the Defense Health Agency’s premier anatomical collection, tucked quietly away on Linden Lane in Silver Spring.
This isn't a gallery of wax models or polite historical write-ups. You are standing face-to-face with the actual lead bullet extracted from Abraham Lincoln’s skull after Ford's Theatre, displayed alongside fragments of his skull, locks of his hair, and the blood-caked shirt cuff worn by autopsy surgeon Edward Curtis. Move past the presidential relics and you'll find the sectioned tumor that killed Ulysses S. Grant, set against a backdrop of roughly 8,000 preserved human organs, bottled specimens, and bone fragments detailing more than 150 years of battlefield trauma.
What it's like
Expect a quiet, clinical environment with the clear feel of an active federal facility—including a security check when you enter. The galleries are rarely crowded, letting you linger inches from 19th-century pathology cases in peace. Admission is free, but because operating hours and security guidelines can change for military-run sites, double-check their schedule online before heading over.
The move: Walk the free galleries together, compare notes on the Lincoln assassination relics case by case, then argue over coffee afterward about which specimen was creepiest.
- 📍 Silver Spring, MD
- 💸 $$
- ⚡ Up for anything
- 🌗 Indoors
Where: 2500 Linden Lane, Silver Spring, MD 20910
Hours: Added 2026-07-19 — confirm current hours before you go.
Pair it with
- Rock Creek Park Nature Center and Planetarium — Pair a tour of Civil War pathology with a shift to open skies inside the National Park Service's only planetarium in nearby Rock Creek Park.
- Franciscan Monastery of the Holy Land in America — Catacombs — Keep the historical intrigue going by descending into the replica Roman catacombs beneath Brookland's Franciscan Monastery.
- National Capital Trolley Museum — Trade preserved 19th-century military medical specimens for preserved vintage streetcars just a short drive north in Montgomery County.
Good to know
Is admission free?
Yes, admission is completely free to the public, though visitors must clear a federal security check at the entrance.
What are the main Lincoln relics on display?
The case holds the lead Derringer bullet fired by John Wilkes Booth, fragments of Lincoln's skull bone, strands of his hair, and surgeon Edward Curtis's blood-stained shirt cuff.
Where is the museum located?
It is located at 2500 Linden Lane in Silver Spring, Maryland, just outside the Washington, D.C. border.
Plan a visit & invite your people →
Further reading: Official site · Wikipedia
last checked: 2026-07-19