One of Philadelphia’s less publicized historic gems is Pennsylvania Hospital. America’s first hospital, it was founded by Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin in 1751 and while it spans several buildings today, the hospital began on the corner of 8th & Pine Sts. in a structure now known as the Pine Building. The Pine Building was built in three sections over nearly sixty years, with the East Wing completed in 1756, the West Wing in 1796, and the Center Section in 1804. The Pine Building is not only open to visitors, but every inch is still used by Pennsylvania Hospital staff for office and meeting space. The gorgeous building has been carefully maintained to historic specifications, housing the country’s first pharmacy along with other sites worth seeing.

Guests can walk the grounds for self-guided tours or can experience tour-guided visits with Stacy Peeples, the hospital’s archivist. In the Center Section, visitors can check out the surgical amphitheater, where students once witnessed gruesome medical procedures performed without anesthesia. These procedures were reproduced in Thomas Eakin’s painting, The Gross Clinic, housed at the Philadelphia Museum of Art. In recent years, the amphitheater has hosted Fringe Festival performances and occasional meetings for groups. The gorgeous historic library houses books dating back to the 1400s in a temperature and humidity controlled environment. Three casts of human bodies are likely to remind tourists of the Mutter Museum oddities. Despite its rich history, the Pennsylvania Hospital only receives around 6,000 guests a year, close to the number of visitors at Independence Hall in a day.

 

The hospital is about to undergo major roof renovations, which must be performed one section at a time. Over the next couple of months, historically accurate slate tiles will replace old roofing. Unlike renovations funded by the Save America’s Treasure Grant, which recently re-painted the exterior and fixed window and door mouldings, the roof replacement has been supported through fundraising. This site is a beautiful part of the city’s rich history and definitely worth a visit for anyone interested in a peek into Philadelphia’s past. — Suzy Grimberg