Mower Hospital

The Mower U.S. Army General Hospital was one of the largest Federal military hospitals during the American Civil War. Located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, it operated from January 1863 through May 1865, when it was closed with the cessation of the war.

The hospital complex was designed by noted architect John McArthur, Jr., who also designed the Philadelphia City Hall. It was named in honor of Thomas Mower, an early Army surgeon. The hospital was constructed along present day East Willow Grove Avenue on 27 acres extending to Stenton Avenue. Commanded by Dr. Andrew Hopkins, it had some 3,600 beds and treated over 20,000 patients, the majority being wounded and ill Union soldiers from the Army of the Potomac. The hospital featured many amenities for the patients and staff, including plumbing to provide hot water, special medical wards that could be isolated for patients with infections, centralized storage for supplies, etc.

The buildings were all razed following the war.