The Spanish Military Hospital Museum is located on Aviles Street, just south of the Plaza. Here visitors will find an accurate portrayal of an 18th century Spanish hospital, complete with furnishings, herbal remedies, and tools of the trade. Take the 20 minute guided tour of the building which offers an intimate look at the daily life of a wounded or sick solider and his caregivers. See how soldiers were treated, what methods were used to care for them, and how cleanliness played into successful cures.

While this museum is a modern reconstruction of the original, it is situated atop the coquina footprint of the hospital from the late 1700s. Every detail, down to the rope strung beds and hay filled mattresses set the stage for the costumed guides to portray life in Spanish St. Augustine 250 years ago. This museum is interpreted to represent how the hospital would have been in 1791, while the city was relatively peaceful and the Fort was full of soldiers. Here visitors will learn about apothecaries, and why their role was vital during this time in history, when medicine could be said to have held as much value as gold or silver! Truly an educational experience.