U.S. Marine Hospital, Louisville

Designed by famous architect Robert Mills (Washington Monument, U.S. Treasury Building, etc.), Louisville's U.S. Marine Hospital opened in 1852 at 2215 Portland Ave. "for the benefit of sick seamen, boatmen, and other navigators on the western rivers and lakes." In those days, that meant the Ohio and Mississippi River systems. It served the Union during the Civil War, then returned to its original function 'til the early 1930s when a new building was constructed right next to it. The structure was then used for offices, storage, and utility, eventually being abandoned altogether. Decades passed, the old hospital deteriorated badly, and preservationists across the country deemed it an endangered treasure. In 1997, it was designated a National Historic Landmark and by the mid 2000s, restoration efforts were finally under way; the exterior was finished in 2007. Thus, happily, the hospital is going to stay with us for a while longer. Here's to many more years. It's served our community for 160 so far. Why stop now?

1922...

Today, post-restoration...

Location...