June 23, 2004
Antietam National Battlefield
6th Congressional District (MD)
BRIEFING: National Museum of Civil War Medicine- Establishment of Interpretive and Educational Satellite Site on Antietam National Battlefield.
Background: The National Museum of Civil War Medicine is a non-profit museum and educational facility located in downtown Frederick, MD. The Museum is highly respected in the medical community and among Civil War History enthusiasts. It contains the largest collection of period medical implements and is affiliated with the Smithsonian. Over the last four years Antietam National Battlefield has worked with the staff of the National Museum to cooperate on interpretive, educational and heritage tourism programs. The Museum has conducted educational programs on the National Battlefield in the past. Annual visitation to the National Museum site in Frederick is 75,000 visitors, but due to the urban location they lack space to do living history interpretive programs and on site education programs. Over 12 years ago the National Museum approached the NPS to base the entire museum and its collection at Antietam, but at that time it did not work out.
Summary: On June 21, 2004 the Superintendent of Antietam National Battlefield met with Mr. George Wunderlich, Executive Director of the National Museum of Civil War Medicine, Frederick Maryland to discuss the establishment of a satellite education and interpretive facility near or on Antietam National Battlefield.
Mr. Wunderlich and his staff have been in discussions with a local landowner concerning rental and use of a historic house for this facility, the house is located within the legislated boundary of the National Battlefield. There discussions had reached an impasse due in part to financial negotiations and expectations on both sides. Mr. Wunderlich had requested the meeting to provide a briefing to the Superintendent on ongoing negotiations and to address a potential long-term partnership to place the facility on the battlefield.
During the meeting I took Mr. Wunderlich and his staff to tour the Pry House and Barn, which is located off Maryland Route 34 northeast of the core Battlefield. The Pry House is a large brick, two-story house that served as Union General McClellan’s headquarters on the day of the Battle. It also served as a hospital site after the battle. The house was partially destroyed by fire in the 1970’s and then restored. It currently is used for the housing of interns when necessary.
The adaptive use of the house and barn site would allow them space for site specific (Antietam) interpretive exhibits, room for living history displays (exterior) and use of the main room in the Barn as a inclement weather education site. I believe such a partnership would be of benefit to the battlefield visitor, provide preservation of this structure and enhance heritage tourism efforts in Western Maryland.
They will continue there negotiations with the local landowner over the next 10 days, if they are not successful Mr. Wunderlich will again contact this office to set additional meetings to continue discussions.
National Museum of Civil War Medicine
Mr. George Wunderlich, Executive Director
Ms. Kari Turner, Education Director
Mr. Ryan Rokicki, Curator
National Park Service
J.W. Howard, Superintendent
Antietam National Battlefield
PO Box 158
Sharpsburg, MD 21782
301-432-7648
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