FREE Admission for Nurses in May – National Nurses Month

The National Museum of Civil War Medicine will be offering FREE admission to all nurses and nursing students during the month of May in honor of National Nurses Month. Nurses wishing to visit the Museum should bring along identification noting their employment or educational standing.

“The past year has been extraordinarily challenging and difficult for nurses across our country and the world,” says Director of Interpretation Jake Wynn. “But it’s not the first time that nurses faced a massive healthcare crisis. In the darkest years of the Civil War, professional nurses eased the suffering of wounded and sick soldiers. The nurses who’ve led the fight against COVID-19 are following in the footsteps of the nurses of the American Civil War. The Museum is grateful to these incredible medical professionals who are carrying on that legacy today.

Throughout May, FREE admission for nurses and nursing students will be available at both the National Museum of Civil War Medicine in Frederick, Maryland and at the Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office Museum in Washington, DC. “We have all been inspired by the sacrifices and dedication shown by nursing professionals during the worst health crisis in a generation,” Wynn said. “We believe that a visit to the Museum offers ‘Hope Through History,’ by sharing how our predecessors overcame many of the very same challenges we all face today.”

During the Civil War healthcare crisis, thousands of people served as nurses, including many who became the nation’s first professional nurses.  Their efforts saved lives on the battlefield, in camp, and in hospitals during the bloodiest and deadliest conflict in the nation’s history.

The National Museum of Civil War Medicine tells stories of these nurses and displays artifacts connected to those who served.”  The Clara Barton Missing Soldiers Office in Washington DC is the space where the famed “Angel of the Battlefield” lived and worked during the Civil War era.  Barton based her war-time relief efforts from the boardinghouse where she lived, gathering supplies before taking them to the battlefield where she provided first-aid to all who needed it.

Currently, the National Museum of Civil War Medicine is open for walk-in tours on Fridays, Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM, and Sundays from 11 AM to 5 PM. Appointments are available Monday through Thursday from 10 AM to 3 PM – information about booking appointments can be found at our website: https://www.civilwarmed.org/visit/reservation-request/

The Missing Soldiers Office is open by appointment – reserve your spot by visiting https://www.clarabartonmuseum.org/reservation-from/