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<\/p>\nPennsylvania Hospital\u2019s Pine Building to Become the Pennsylvania Hospital Museum<\/p>\n
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America\u2019s first chartered hospital will mark its 275th anniversary by transforming Pennsylvania Hospital\u2019s historic Pine Building into a museum, open to the public in May 2026. Timed to coincide with semiquincentennial celebrations in Philadelphia, the Pennsylvania Hospital Museum links the nation\u2019s first hospital\u2019s rich history with Penn Medicine\u2019s continued leadership in science and medicine.<\/p>\n
Exhibits will include the preserved historic library and surgical amphitheater and newly restored apothecary. Eight unique galleries will feature interactive video exhibits and other hands-on activities to illustrate previously untold stories about Pennsylvania Hospital\u2019s role in the history of modern medicine.<\/p>\n
\u201cPennsylvania Hospital is not only linked to the history of just Philadelphia, but to the history of the United States of America: from caring for soldiers during the American revolution to sending physicians and nurses abroad to caring\u00a0for soldiers in World War I and World War II, from the Yellow Fever in 1793 to the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, from brewing healing teas from herbs grown on hospital grounds to developing brain-computer interfaces that can treat conditions like Parkinson\u2019s disease and obsessive-compulsive disorder,\u201d said Stacey Peeples, lead archivist at Pennsylvania Hospital. \u201cI am thrilled to illuminate the huge contributions of generations of caregivers, patients and staff, so that every visitor can share in the pride we feel in the history of Pennsylvania Hospital.\u201d<\/p>\n
The museum highlights the hospital\u2019s robust tradition of \u201cfirsts\u201d that continue to drive advancements in medicine today, including those pioneered across Penn Medicine. Each gallery is dedicated to a story central to Pennsylvania Hospital\u2019s legacy. Highlights include:<\/p>\n
\tBrain and Mental Health: The hospital was first established to provide psychiatric care to Philadelphia\u2019s poorest residents, which at the time was groundbreaking. Since then, Pennsylvania Hospital continues to pioneer cutting-edge technologies to treat complicated conditions, including using deep brain stimulation for binge-eating disorders and thought-powered prosthetics.
\n\tWomen\u2019s Health: Today, Pennsylvania Hospital is the busiest birthing hospital in Philadelphia, welcoming over 5,000 babies into the world each year. It paved the way for modern obstetrics and gynecology for centuries, from establishing the first maternity ward in 1803 to addressing racial disparities in maternal healthcare today.
\n\tApothecary and Pharmaceuticals: In a reconstruction of the hospital\u2019s original apothecary, the museum traces the history of how illness is treated, from early therapies that were created from plants through modern day innovative therapies developed at Penn Medicine, like CAR-T cell therapy and CRISPR gene editing.
\n\tLeading Through Conflicts and Perseverance: Pennsylvania Hospital played an important role in guiding the nation through challenging times. Starting with the American Revolution, Pennsylvania Hospital cared for soldiers during times of war. The hospital also provided care to Philadelphians during pandemics, from the Spanish Flu all the way through COVID-19.<\/p>\n
\u201cPennsylvania Hospital is a jewel in the crown that is Penn Medicine, where our staff draw energy from our rich history to shape the future of medicine,\u201d said Alicia Gresham, CEO of Pennsylvania Hospital. \u201cIt is an honor to preserve this vibrant legacy while steering the hospital forward as we continue to make history through innovation, discovery, and advances that propel Penn Medicine\u2019s mission.\u201d<\/p>\n
Pennsylvania Hospital was founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Thomas Bond \u201cfor the reception and cure of poor sick persons\u2026free of charge,\u201d an endeavor itself that was novel in a time when sick individuals called upon doctors to come to their homes and paid for their services themselves.<\/p>\n
For 275 years, Pennsylvania Hospital continued to be a leader in patient care. Today, it is nationally recognized for programs in neurosurgery, obstetrics and high-risk maternal and fetal services, neonatology, behavioral health, and orthopedics. The hospital is home to 517 licensed inpatient beds and saw 19,759 adult admissions, 54,023 emergency department visits, and 5,163 births in fiscal year 2025.<\/p>\n
Older than the United States itself, Pennsylvania Hospital plays an integral role in keeping Philadelphia healthy and safe, and has distinguished itself as a beloved member of the community it serves.<\/p>\n
\u201cFrom its founding, Pennsylvania Hospital has embraced the idea that everyone is welcome,\u201d said Ms. Peeples. \u201cThe sense of community is woven into the very fabric of the institution\u2014you can feel it the moment you walk through our doors. No one is ever a stranger here.\u201d<\/p>\n