Spanish Military Hospital Museum

The Spanish Military Hospital Museum brings you fascinating St. Augustine history!

You'll find out just what it was like to be a patient in 1791 at this wonderful Florida museum. The building is a reconstruction of a military hospital that stood on this actual site during the Second Spanish Colonial Period from 1784 – 1821.

Medicine has certainly come a long, long way in the last several hundred years and I for one, am quite grateful. After you finish your tour, I think you will agree.

You're going to learn firsthand of the advanced medical practices of the Spanish who have licensed Physicians since the 16th century.

On your guided tour you will visit the Mourning Room and the Surgeon's Office complete with his surgical tools, explained and demonstrated by your guide. Then travel to the Wardroom and learn of the strict regulations of the Royal Hospital. Did you know that the Spanish required their Surgeon's to wash their hands before touching a patient in a time where germs had not been realized? Wait until you see the “tools” that were used; quite frightening and the beds didn’t look any too comfortable either.

The Apothecary was in charge of the making of the medicines and many of the medicines that we use today are derived from the herbs that he used 300 hundred years ago. End your tour with a visit to the herb garden and display room which features medical instruments and tools from centuries past.

I highly recommend this wonderful Florida museum full of fascinating St. Augustine history. It is fun, educational (don't tell the kids) and very reasonable. Be sure to add the Spanish Military Hospital Museum to your "must do" list.

Hours: 10:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday
12:00 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. Sunday

Admission: Adults – $5.30
Children – $3.18

Group Tours of all ages are welcome!

NOTE: Please be sure to confirm all rates and details directly with the attraction.

Return from Spanish Military Hospital Museum to Historic Sites

Return to St-Augustine-Travel-Guide.com home page.

St. Augustine, Florida