the museum of medical science opened in the houston museum of natural science opened on november 16, 1969, and it remained there for 21 years. the current museum facility opened on march 16, 1996 as the museum of health & medical science. the building housing the museum, the john p. mcgovern building, was funded with a $9.5 million capital campaign. since the opening, the museum has processed over two million visitors. in late 2001 the museum's board of trustees unanimously voted to rename the museum after john p. mcgovern. the museum revamped its brand in 2006, as part of the 10th anniversary in the standalone facility. the new branding included a shortened name ("the health museum") and a new logo. as of 2006 the museum received 175,000 annual visitors.