Old Naval Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Naval Hospital
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 Location in Washington, D.C.
Location in the District of Columbia
Location in the United States
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| Location | 8th and E Street, SE Washington, D.C. United States |
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| Built | 1866 |
| Architectural style | Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 74002171 |
| Added to NRHP | May 3, 1974 |
The Old Naval Hospital is a historic building in Washington, D.C.. It is located in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. This building has a long and interesting past. It was first built to help sick or injured sailors and marines.
Contents
A Look Back: The Hospital's History
Building the Hospital
In March 1864, Abraham Lincoln, who was the President of the United States, asked Congress to build a hospital. Congress is the group of people who make laws for the country. The hospital was finished in July 1866. It cost about $115,000 to build.
Modern Features for Its Time
This new hospital was designed to hold 50 patients. It had many modern features for its time. It had good air flow, which is called ventilation. It also had running water and gas lighting. These things made it a very advanced hospital for the 1800s.
Changes Over the Years
In 1906, the hospital moved to a new, bigger building. This new facility was located on Observatory Hill in Northwest Washington, D.C. After the hospital moved, the old building was used for other purposes.
In 1922, the building became a temporary home for veterans. These were people who had served in different wars. The United States government still owns the building today. However, in 1962, the local government of Washington, D.C., became responsible for it. The building was empty for many years after that.
Bringing the Building Back to Life
A group called the Friends of the Old Naval Hospital worked hard to save the building. They raised money to fix it up. The restoration cost about $12 million. The plan was to turn the building into a place for the community.
This new place is called the Hill Center. It is used for education and community events in the Capitol Hill area. The restoration work began in June 2010. Today, the Old Naval Hospital is a busy and important part of the community.
