The United States Marine Hospital, formerly known as Frank S. Keeler Memorial Hospital, is a historic
Greek Revival
The Greek Revival was an architectural movement which began in the middle of the 18th century but which particularly flourished in the late 18th and early 19th centuries, predominantly in northern Europe and the United States and Canada, but a ...
hospital building in
Mobile
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* Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city
* Mobile County, Alabama
* Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S.
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* Mobile ( ...
,
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County
, LargestMetro = Greater Birmingham
, area_total_km2 = 135,765 ...
,
United States
The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 states, a federal district, five major unincorporated territori ...
. Construction began in 1838 and was completed in 1842. It was designed by architect Frederick Bunnell and was operated by the
Marine Hospital Service from its opening until it closed, in 1952. It treated injured
Confederate
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and
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soldiers during the
American Civil War
The American Civil War (April 12, 1861 – May 26, 1865; also known by other names) was a civil war in the United States. It was fought between the Union ("the North") and the Confederacy ("the South"), the latter formed by states ...
.
It shares some design features, such as its two-story colonnades, with its neighbor, the old
Mobile City Hospital
Mobile City Hospital, also known as Old Mobile General Hospital, is a historic Greek Revival hospital building in Mobile, Alabama, United States. It was built in 1830 by Thomas S. James and served as a hospital for the city of Mobile from 1831 u ...
.
The building was added to the
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) is the United States federal government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects deemed worthy of preservation for their historical significance or "great artistic ...
on June 27, 1974.
The Mobile County Board of Health acquired the title to the property from the
Tuberculosis
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease usually caused by '' Mycobacterium tuberculosis'' (MTB) bacteria. Tuberculosis generally affects the lungs, but it can also affect other parts of the body. Most infections show no symptoms, i ...
Association on October 23, 1975. By 1983 the board had created an adjoining new structure to the rear of the main structure and restored the historic building. The facility was rededicated as the Major General
William C. Gorgas Clinic in 1984.
Timeline
![Mobile Marine Hospital](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Mobile_Marine_Hospital.jpg)
* 1798 - U.S. Congress created a Marine Hospital Service to provide for the care of sick and disabled seamen.
* 1817 - Marine Hospital built in Mobile on Government Street at Marine Street.
* 1836 - Marine Hospital destroyed by fire.
* 1838 - Land acquired for construction of new Marine Hospital at 800 St. Anthony Street next to newly constructed City Hospital.
* 1861-65 - Marine Hospital served at different times as a military hospital for Confederate and Union troops.
* 1870 - Hospital ceased to serve as a military hospital and returned to former status as the Marine Hospital.
* 1872 - Marine Hospital leased to private party. A report dated 1872 stated, "The building is old and unworthy of any considerable outlay for repairs."
* 1876 - Marine Hospital reverted to being a public institution.
* 1901 - Electric lights and plumbing installed.
* 1902 - Name changed to U.S. Public Health and Marine Service Hospital.
* 1912 - Facility served as first headquarters for malaria investigations by the U.S. Public Health Service.
* 1914 - Hospital served soldiers and sailors during World War I in addition to serving as a public health service.
* 1915 - First female nurse, Miss Ruby Gordon, reported to duty. Previously, only male nurses had been employed.
* 1932 - Three-story, T-shaped building added to rear of existing building, which approximately doubled the space in the hospital.
* 1953 - Sixth District Tuberculosis Association met to plan the acquisition of the hospital for use as a tuberculosis hospital. Frank S. Keeler was elected president of the association.
* 1955 - The U.S. government transferred the hospital to the Sixth District Tuberculosis Association for use as a tuberculosis hospital.
* 1973 - The Sixth District Tuberculosis Hospital was renamed the Frank S. Keeler Memorial Hospital in honor of his work in obtaining the Public Health Service Hospital for use as a tuberculosis sanatorium.
* 1974 - The Frank S. Keeler Tuberculosis Hospital closed on July 1, and the hospital was listed in the National Register of Historic Places on July 9.
* 1975 - The Mobile County Health Department purchased the Frank S. Keeler Memorial Building and surrounding property.
References
{{NRHP in Mobile, Alabama
National Register of Historic Places in Mobile, Alabama
Buildings and structures in Mobile, Alabama
Greek Revival architecture in Alabama
Government buildings completed in 1842
Hospital buildings completed in 1842
American Civil War hospitals
Defunct hospitals in Alabama
1842 establishments in Alabama
Mobile
Mobile may refer to:
Places
* Mobile, Alabama, a U.S. port city
* Mobile County, Alabama
* Mobile, Arizona, a small town near Phoenix, U.S.
* Mobile, Newfoundland and Labrador
Arts, entertainment, and media Music Groups and labels
* Mobile ( ...
Hospital buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Alabama