Alameda Naval Hospital facts for kids
The Alameda Naval Hospital was a large medical center for the United States Navy in Alameda, California. It opened in 1941 to help soldiers and their families during World War II.
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The Alameda Naval Hospital was a very important place for the US Navy. It was built on 77 acres of land in Alameda, California. The main building was huge, about 150,000 square feet, and had three stories.
A Hospital for World War II
The hospital started in 1941, right when the United States entered World War II. Its main job was to provide medical care for Navy troops and their families. It was always kept up-to-date with the best medical equipment and practices. The hospital was also very close to the Naval Air Station Alameda, which it supported. It even had a special dental unit for teeth care.
Changing Roles and Closure
By 1960, the hospital's role began to change. It became smaller and was mostly used as a place to send medical supplies and equipment to Navy ships and other bases nearby. This was easy because it was close to train tracks and truck routes. Most Navy people needing serious medical care were then sent to Naval Hospital Oakland.
In 1975, the hospital and its dental unit officially closed down. The building was then used only as a supply center, called the Navy Fleet Industrial Supply Center, or Navy FISC.
The End of an Era
The Navy FISC building closed on April 25, 1997. This happened because of something called Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC). The United States Congress and the United States Department of Defense decided to close many military bases and facilities to save money.
After it closed, the building was left empty for many years. Sometimes, it was used for special urban training exercises. Because it was abandoned, it even became known as an Urban legend site, with many stories told about it.
What Happened to the Land?
The land where the hospital stood has an interesting history. Before the Navy built the hospital in 1941, it was an Army Air Corp base called Benton Field in the 1930s.
Sadly, on March 29, 2009, a fire badly damaged the old hospital building and two nearby Army buildings. In 2013, a special team called Vista Environmental removed most of the damaged building because it had hazardous materials.
Today, there are plans for new homes on 17 acres of the former hospital land. On October 19, 2019, the city approved a plan for 354 new homes. These will include single-family homes, townhouses, and apartments. The new homes are being built by Pulte Homes and are called Bay37.
