Rock Creek-White Run Union Hospital Complex facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Rock Creek-White Run Union Hospital Complex
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 Location in Pennsylvania
Location in the United States
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| Location | Baltimore Pike, Goulden Road, and White Church Road, near Mount Joy, Cumberland Township, Gettysburg, and Mount Joy Township, Pennsylvania |
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| Area | 550 acres (220 ha) |
| Built | 1863 |
| Architectural style | Pennsylvania Farmhouse |
| MPS | Adams County properties associated with the Battle of Gettysburg MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 00000520 |
| Added to NRHP | May 18, 2000 |
The Rock Creek-White Run Union Hospital Complex is a very important historic district in Adams County, Pennsylvania. It is located near Gettysburg. This area was used as a huge hospital right after the famous Battle of Gettysburg in 1863. Thousands of injured soldiers from the Union Army were cared for here.
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A Giant Hospital After the Battle
The Battle of Gettysburg was one of the biggest and bloodiest battles of the American Civil War. It happened in July 1863. After the fighting stopped, there were many thousands of injured soldiers. The regular hospitals couldn't hold everyone. So, nearby farms and churches were quickly turned into temporary hospitals. This complex was one of the largest. It covered a huge area, about 550 acres (220 hectares). It included 13 different properties. These were mostly farms and one church.
What Made Up This Hospital Complex?
The complex was made of 11 main buildings and 13 important sites. These were all connected and worked together. The main parts of the complex included eight different farmsteads. A farmstead is a farm with its buildings, like a house and barns. There was also a church called White's Church, also known as Marks German Reformed Church.
The farms that became part of this massive hospital were:
- Schwartz Farm
- Shaeffer Farm
- Trostle Farm
- Lewis Bushman Farm
- Diener Farm
- Conover Farm
- Lightner Farm
- Beitler Farm
Who Was Treated Here?
Soldiers from several different parts of the Army of the Potomac were treated at these hospitals. The Army of the Potomac was the main Union Army in the Eastern United States during the Civil War. Soldiers from the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th, 6th, and 12th "corps" were brought here. A corps is a large group of soldiers, like a division of an army. These soldiers received care in the weeks right after the Battle of Gettysburg. Doctors and nurses worked tirelessly to help the wounded.
Why Was It Important?
The Rock Creek-White Run Union Hospital Complex shows how much effort was needed to care for soldiers during the Civil War. It highlights the challenges faced by medical teams at that time. It also reminds us of the bravery of the soldiers and the people who helped them. Because of its historical importance, this complex was added to the National Register of Historic Places in the year 2000. This means it's recognized as a place that is important to the history of the United States.
