Milwaukee Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
|
|
Milwaukee Hospital
|
|
Milwaukee Hospital
|
|
| Location | 2200 W. Kilbourn Ave. Milwaukee, Wisconsin |
|---|---|
| Architectural style | Modern Movement |
| NRHP reference No. | 06000800 |
| Added to NRHP | September 6, 2006 |
The Milwaukee Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, was a very important hospital in the United States. It was known for being a leader in new medical ideas, especially in surgery and using X-rays. The hospital opened its special surgery rooms in 1912 and had the most powerful X-ray machine in the U.S. by 1926! Because of its important history, the hospital complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2006. This means it's a special place recognized for its historical value.
History of Milwaukee Hospital
How the Hospital Started
The Milwaukee Hospital was started in 1863 by a Lutheran church leader named William Passavant. At first, it was just a hospital in an old farm house. William Passavant is now seen as a special person, like a saint, by the Lutheran and Episcopal Churches.
In 1884, the hospital built a brand new building. This building was made just for taking care of patients. A doctor named Nicholas Senn started working there in 1879. He became famous around the world for using very clean methods in surgery. This was a big deal because at that time, doctors were just starting to understand that tiny germs could cause sickness. Dr. Senn used these clean methods to explore parts of the body like the pancreas and intestines.
Growing Bigger and Better
In the early 1900s, another church leader, Reverend Herman Fritschel, became the Director of the hospital. He had big plans to make the hospital much larger. His biggest project was building the Surgical Annex in 1912. This building had five floors and was designed by Meyer J. Sturm from Chicago. It is the oldest part of the hospital complex that is still standing today.
Over the years, the hospital kept growing:
- In 1925-1926, the six-story West Wing was added.
- In 1931, the Central Wing was built. It replaced the original hospital building from 1884.
- A special Maternity Pavilion for new mothers and babies was added in 1941.
- The Senn Wing, named after Dr. Nicholas Senn, was built in 1951-1952.
- Other parts, like the Lutheran Deaconess Home, the Hennekemper Wing, the East Wing, and the East Pavilion, were added in later years, making the hospital complex very large.
