United States Marine Hospital (Louisville, Kentucky) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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United States Marine Hospital of Louisville
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| Location | Louisville, Kentucky, United States |
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| Built | 1845 |
| Architect | multiple |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 97001265 |
| Added to NRHP | September 25, 1997 |
The United States Marine Hospital in Louisville, Kentucky, is a very old and important building. It was built in 1845 in the Portland area. Experts at the National Park Service say it's the best old hospital from before the American Civil War that is still standing in the United States.
This hospital was one of seven built in the mid-1800s. These hospitals were made by the Marine Hospital Service to help sick sailors, boatmen, and other people who worked on boats on the western rivers and lakes. The Louisville hospital is the only one of those seven that is still here today. It even survived two tornadoes! The building has been carefully fixed up to look just like it did in 1899.
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A Look Back: Hospital History
The U.S. Marine Hospital in Louisville first opened its doors in 1852. Patients who came here were often sick from diseases, extreme weather, or problems with the boats they worked on.
Helping During the Civil War
During the American Civil War, this hospital was very important. Along with another hospital called Jefferson General Hospital, it helped care for many wounded soldiers. Both Union soldiers and captured Confederate soldiers received care here. It's thought that about one-third of all the patients were Black.
Later Years and Closing
In World War I, the hospital helped many soldiers who had lost limbs in the war. In the 1930s, it became a place for nurses and doctors from other hospitals to live. The hospital finally closed in 1933.
The city of Louisville bought the building in 1950 for $25,000. For a short time, they used it as a hospital for people with long-term illnesses. In the late 1950s, it housed medical students who worked at a newer hospital built right behind it. That newer hospital is now called Family Health Center Portland. The old Marine Hospital building was empty from 1976 until 2007. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1997, which means it's recognized as an important historical site.
Bringing the Hospital Back to Life
In 2003, a group called the National Trust for Historic Preservation (NTHP) put the building on its America's Most Endangered Places list. This helped get people interested in saving and fixing up the hospital.
Making it Look Like 1899
The goal was to make the hospital look exactly like it did in 1899. This was the earliest time they could find clear information about the building's appearance. In 2003, the hospital received a special grant of $375,000 from the NTHP. This money helped fix its roof and the outside of the building.
Work to rebuild the structure began on November 11, 2005. To make it look like 1899, a tall smokestack that was built in 1933 was taken down. The octagonal cupola, a small dome-like structure on the roof, was also rebuilt. Patients used to enjoy looking at the river traffic from this cupola.
Small buildings that once held a boiler and a parking area were also removed to match the original design. The 28 sets of wrought iron railings along the building's porches were either fixed or replaced. The same company in Covington, Kentucky that made the original railings in 1850 helped with this work. The hospital celebrated finishing the outside restoration with an open house on June 16, 2007.
What's Next for the Hospital?
People have thought of several ways to use this historic building. When Paul E. Patton was the governor of Kentucky, there was an idea to make the hospital a welcome center for people entering Kentucky from the Sherman Minton Bridge. However, traffic studies showed this wouldn't work.
The basement, which used to hold boilers, is planned to become a large ballroom. This space, about 3,450 square feet, could be rented for parties and other special events. The ground floor of the building will be an interactive center. It will teach visitors about the hospital's history and show old items from its past.
The top two floors are set aside for groups and organizations. These groups will work to improve health in city areas where people might not have good access to healthcare. News reports have said that the University of Louisville is close to making a deal to put a Community Health Center in this historic building.
Building Design: Architecture
The hospital was built in a smart location, between the busy docks of Louisville and Portland. This spot offered a "beneficial effect of a view of the (Ohio River)." It was thought that seeing the river would help the patients, as their jobs were so connected to it.
The hospital was designed by Robert Mills. He also designed famous buildings like the Washington Monument. This hospital was very modern for its time. It had indoor plumbing and a special air circulation system. This system helped stop infections from spreading, which was a big deal back then!
