Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia to Open Museum for Nation’s 250th Birthday

Pennsylvania Hospital to Debut Museum in Historic Pine Building

Pennsylvania Hospital in Philadelphia, described as the oldest hospital in the United States, is set to become the city’s newest museum as part of this year’s celebration of America’s 250th birthday. The new Pennsylvania Hospital Museum will open on Friday, May 8, inside the hospital’s historic Pine Building.

The hospital, founded 25 years before the nation itself, is marking its 275th anniversary in the same year that the United States is turning 250 years old. A lead archivist and museum curator at the hospital stated that Pennsylvania Hospital is the first chartered hospital in the nation and noted the coincidence of the hospital’s 275th year aligning with the country’s 250th year.

Restoration of Historic Spaces for Museum Use

Eight rooms within the Pine Building at Pennsylvania Hospital are currently being restored for use as museum spaces. Among these rooms is the historic pharmacy, which is being prepared to display medical artifacts. The museum will feature materials that include rare books dating back to 1762 as well as early surgical tools, such as scalpels.

The Pennsylvania Hospital Museum is designed to highlight the progress of medicine from its origins to modern breakthroughs. The collection will present artifacts that document developments in medical care over time, using items preserved from the hospital’s long history.

Historical Role in Caring for the Sick and Poor

Pennsylvania Hospital was established to provide care for the sick, the poor, and the mentally ill. According to archivist commentary referenced in the material, prior to the establishment of institutions like Pennsylvania Hospital, individuals who were sick or injured typically had to rely on hiring a physician.

Today, the hospital continues to function as a medical institution while preparing this new museum component. The opening of the Pennsylvania Hospital Museum on May 8 in Philadelphia is positioned as part of broader commemorations of the nation’s 250th birthday and the hospital’s 275th year.