Mower Hospital facts for kids

This is a lithograph of Mower Hospital. It was made by James Queen around the year 1863.

Mower Hospital was a very important military hospital during the American Civil War. It was built in 1862 in a neighborhood called Chestnut Hill, which is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The United States Army ran this hospital to help soldiers who were hurt or sick.

Mower Hospital: A Civil War Healing Place

Mower Hospital was one of the largest hospitals built during the American Civil War. It was designed to care for many soldiers who needed medical help. The hospital played a big part in helping the Union Army during the war.

Building a Place for Healing

The hospital was designed by a famous architect named John McArthur, Jr.. He also designed Philadelphia's City Hall. Mower Hospital was built close to the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. This made it easy and fast to bring injured soldiers to the hospital by train.

The hospital opened in January 1863 and stayed open until May 1865. It was a very large place, able to hold up to 4,000 patients at one time.

Smart Design for Health

The way Mower Hospital was built was very smart for its time. It was designed to stop sick people from spreading infections to others. This was important because many soldiers got sick from diseases, not just injuries. The hospital had fresh air and good space between patients to help them get better.

Life at Mower Hospital

Mower Hospital was like a small town for the soldiers and staff. It had many different buildings and services. Soldiers could get a haircut at the barber shop. There was even a place for people to buy groceries.

The hospital had modern features for its time. It had lights powered by gas and a system for fresh water. These things made it a better place for healing and living.

Today, Mower Hospital does not exist anymore. It was taken down after the Civil War ended.