Spanish Military Hospital Museum — Attraction in Saint Augustine

We were in town for a long weekend and entered the Spanish Hospital Museum on Aviles Street to gather brochures for sightseeing ideas. Museum Manager, Celeste, was dressed in the colonial period, welcomed us to the museum and answered our typical tourist questions.

We had not been to the museum before and decided to take a tour the next day. Tours are scheduled on the hour and half hour and last 40-45 minutes. We took the 12:30 tour with Jose. Tours are offered daily from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.; closed on Thanksgiving and Christmas Day. The museum promotes: 'fully guided interpretive experience of 18th century colonial medicine.' The museum is pet friendly; night tours are available. Check out the Facebook page on Fridays for "Fur Fan Friday." A gift shop is located at the rear of the museum where you will find handmade soaps, books, coffee mugs and St. Augustine souvenirs.

Senior admission (age 60+): $14.95; adults: $16.95; children (ages 6-12): $6.95. Buy online and save. Use the promo code "booknow" and save $1 on each adult admission. Group admission rates are available for 15 or more. The museum is featured on page 11 of the Historical Sites section of the St. Augustine Sightseeing Map & Guide.

The museum also offers gardens for relaxation

The Spanish Military Hospital was reconstructed in 1966 by the State of Florida to illustrate medical practices in the late 1700s. After the Spanish returned to St. Augustine in 1784 the building was converted to a new military hospital.

Jose, also in period dress, was an amazing and knowledgeable guide. He is currently a researcher of Spanish and Caribbean history and translator for programs and exhibits displayed throughout the city.

As the "Chief of Surgery" he demonstrated and taught us about the tools and surgical techniques common to the era for our small group of two senior couples. Many of them are used today, albeit with improved designs. The Spanish were years ahead of their time especially in surgical techniques.

An important takeaway was that the biggest worry of infection came not from rifle balls but from embedded uniform fabric in the wound. Jose took us into the "Apothecary" and talked about the various medicines common in the period, specifically laudanum and valerian, used to calm the injured which is widely available in supplement and tea form. He also demonstrated how colonial herbs were the origins of some popular medicines today. Think "Valium."

We also visited the Morgue and learned about the expression "wake." Once a soldier died, a “wake” was held in the same room. The expression "hosting a wake" comes from the practice of watching the body to ensure that the person did not "wake up." Since embalming and refrigeration had not yet been invented, the bodies were buried quickly.

A chance stop to get tourist information resulted in an enjoyable and informative afternoon learning about the early medical practices in the U.S. Put the Spanish Hospital Museum on your list of...

Easily one of the most informative museums in the entirety of Saint Augustine for anyone interested in the history of the Second Spanish Period (1784-1821). Tina and Katie were working when I visited and were very helpful and engaging for any questions or comments that I had. Katie led me on the tour (sadly I was the only person) and she did not disappoint in her delivery. Unfortunately the size of the museum makes this one easy to overlook, and its subject matter, medical treatment in the late 18th/early 19th century, is somewhat niche. If your background is in the healthcare field, you should not miss it. Even so, I have to say that the living history presentation at the Spanish Military Hospital Museum was without a doubt the most accurate and most faithful living history presentation, and also the most informed, that I witnessed during my stay in Saint Augustine. There are many places that pass for such (like The Colonial Quarter, yuck) but present content that is anachronistic, ahistorical, and complete farb, if not made up. Not here. Katie's presentations made it clear that the museum is dedicated to the accuracy of its interpretations, and its staff has performed the research necessary for it...

This is mostly a sit down and watch and listen tour. There are 2 rooms that you'll go into and have a seat. The first is the hospital operation area. There are beds and a surgical table with old surgical tools. The guide will go over the tools and how they were used and how surgeries were performed. Made me get goosebumps with the descriptions of the surgical methods and fact that they really had no anesthesia back then. It was interactive--the guide does ask for volunteers to demonstrate some of the surgeries and makes it entertaining for all. You then proceed outside and into the 2nd room but before doing so you'll be able to see the garden where the natural herbs are grown. This room is the herb room. This is where the natural herb and medicine is made. The tour guide was also interactive here by going around the room with the herbs and showing us what the looked like and smelled like. He went over how certain ones would be used. After this is room you'll be led into their tiny gift shop. The shop does have some natural soaps that...