Visitor Information

Global Health Histories
Thursday, November 3, and Friday, November 4, 2005

William H. Natcher Conference Center
National Institutes of Health
45 Center Drive
Bethesda, Maryland 20892

• General Information
• Security
• Parking
• Directions
• Hotels & Dining
• Contact Information

• General Information

  The William H. Natcher Conference Center (Building 45) is part of the National Institutes of Health and is located on the NIH campus in Bethesda, Md., approximately 5 miles from Washington D.C. The Natcher Building is across the street and north from Building 38A and the National Library of Medicine. It is a 5-minute walk from the Medical Center Metro stop on the Red Line.

  The Natcher Conference Center is a state-of-the-art facility with the latest technology in audio-visual presentations, recordings, interactive video and audio technology. The center consists of a 1000 seat auditorium, two (2) video teleconferencing rooms with 30 seats each, and seven (7) conference rooms with a maximum of 140 seats. The Natcher Conference Center is fully accessible.

  Messages may be left for conference participants from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
  By Phone: (301) 496-9966, extension 21
  By Fax: (301) 480-5982.
  

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• Security

  The NIH, like all Federal Government facilities, has recently instituted new security measures to ensure the safety of NIH employees, patients, and visitors. All visitors entering the Natcher Building must show two forms of ID; one must be a government-issued photo ID. All visitors should be prepared to have their personal belongings inspected and to go through a metal detection inspection (wand, magnetometer, etc).

  Please visit the NIH Visitors and Security page for more information.

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• Parking

  Visitor parking is very limited but if you must drive, short-term metered parking may be available near the Natcher Conference Center in Lot B. Please visit http://parking.nih.gov/visitor_access_map.htm to see the location of visitor parking areas.

  Due to increased security on the NIH campus, a guard or policeman will stop you at the entrance to South Drive and ask for your driver's license and the purpose of your visit. You will be sent to a parking lot nearby and your car will be inspected. After the inspection, you will receive a visitor pass. Continue down South Drive to the intersection with Center Drive. Turn left, and then make the third left into the visitor parking lot. This turn is immediately after the turn into the plaza in front of the William H. Natcher Building (Building 45) and just before a large intersection and traffic light. You are strongly encouraged to take public transportation to the NIH campus as there are very few visitor parking spaces available.

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• Directions

  By Metro:
  The NLM may be reached via the Washington, D.C. Metro underground railway system. Visitors to the Library are encouraged to use Metrorail or Metrobus service on weekdays. The Library and Lister Hill building is 2 blocks south of the Medical Center stop on the Metro red line. Upon exiting the escalator, proceed right, following the detour signs to Center Drive.

  By Car:

  • Directions from Baltimore:
    Take I-695 to I-95 (South) to I-495. On I-495 proceed (West) toward Silver Spring. Continue on I-495 to Exit 33 (South) Connecticut Avenue/Chevy Chase. Turn left on Connecticut Avenue (Route 185 South). At next traffic light turn right onto Jones Bridge Road and proceed three traffic lights to the intersection of Rockville Pike. Make a right onto Rockville Pike and go to the next traffic light, South Drive. Make a left onto South Drive; non-NIH staff will have their vehicles inspected. Continue down South Drive to the first stop sign. Make a left onto Center Drive. Follow Center Drive until you come to the Library, Building #38, on the right. The Natcher Conference Center is on the left, across the street from the National Library of Medicine.
    
    
  • Directions from Frederick:
    Take I-270 (South) toward Washington and I-495. Where I-270 and I-495 split, follow the signs to I-495. Take exit for 355 South (Bethesda) onto Wisconsin Avenue. NLM is 2 miles south from this exit. At the intersection of South Drive and Rockville Pike, turn right onto South Drive; non-NIH staff will have their vehicles inspected. Continue down South Drive to the first stop sign. Make a left onto Center Drive. Follow Center Drive until you come to the Library, Building #38, on the right. The Natcher Conference Center is on the left, across the street from the National Library of Medicine.
    
    
  • Directions from Virginia:
    Take I-95 (North) to I-495 (West). Continue on I-495 towards Rockville to exit 34. Proceed through 3 traffic lights. At the 4th traffic light (intersection of South Drive and Rockville Pike), turn right onto South Drive; non-NIH staff will have their vehicles inspected. Continue down South Drive to the first stop sign. Make a left onto Center Drive. Follow Center Drive until you come to the Library, Building #38, on the right. The Natcher Conference Center is on the left, across the street from the National Library of Medicine.
    
    
  • Directions from D.C.:
    Proceed (North) from the District on Wisconsin Avenue to the intersection of South Drive and Rockville Pike. Turn left onto South Drive (third traffic light after Ramada Inn); non-NIH staff will have their vehicles inspected. Continue down South Drive to the first stop sign. Make a left onto Center Drive. Follow Center Drive until you come to the Library, Building #38, on the right. The Natcher Conference Center is on the left, across the street from the National Library of Medicine.

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• Hotels & Dining

  For information on dining options in the area, as well as additional community information, try the restaurant catalog at Bethesda.org, the city of Bethesda's Web site.
  
  

  American Inn of Bethesda 8130 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 301-656-9300 (5 minute walk to NLM)	Holiday Inn Bethesda 8120 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 301-652-2000 (5 minute walk to NLM)
  Bethesda Marriott 5151 Pooks Hill Road Bethesda, MD 20814 301-897-9400 (15-20 minute walk, 5 minute Metro ride from the Grosvenor-Strathmore station)	Hyatt Regency Bethesda 1 Bethesda Metro Center Bethesda, MD 20814 301-657-1234 (10 minute walk, 5 minute Metro ride from the Bethesda station)
  Chevy Chase Holiday Inn 5520 Wisconsin Avenue Chevy Chase, MD 20815 301-656-1500 (10 minute Metro ride from the Friendship Heights station)	Clarion Hotel Bethesda Park 8400 Wisconsin Avenue Bethesda, MD 20814 301-654-1000 (5 minute walk to NLM)
  Double Tree Hotel 1750 Rockville Pike Rockville, MD 20852 301-468-1100 (10 minute Metro ride from the Twinbrook station)
  For those who would like to stay in the downtown Washington, D.C. area: Hotel Tabard Inn 1739 N Street NW Washington, DC 20036 202-785-1277 (20 minute Metro ride from the Dupont Circle station)

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• Contact Information

  Global Health Histories
  Meghan Attalla, Registrar
  History of Medicine Division
  National Library of Medicine
  8600 Rockville Pike
  Bethesda, MD 20894
  
  E-mail: hmdref@nlm.nih.gov
  Phone: (301) 496-8949
  Fax: (301) 402-7034
  

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