124-0036

Portsmouth Naval Hospital

VLR Listing Date

11/16/1971

NRHP Listing Date

04/13/1972

NRHP Reference Number

72001516

Originally known as the Norfolk Naval Hospital, this famous facility in the city of Portsmouth was an outgrowth of the 1798 Congressional act creating the Marine Hospital Service. Fort Nelson, a Revolutionary War defense work guarding the Norfolk harbor, was chosen as the hospital site in 1826. The architect, John Haviland of Philadelphia, produced a preeminent work of Greek Revival institutional architecture. The decastyle Doric portico, finished in what Haviland described as “chisel dressed Virginia freestone,” is a masterpiece of monumentality. Distinctive are the narrow frieze windows forming the triglyphs. The shallow dome capping the operating room was added during a 1907 expansion. The Portsmouth Naval Hospital has had a distinguished record of service, treating naval casualties of every American conflict since its opening. Now flanked by modern hospital facilities in Portsmouth, Haviland’s original structure underwent a careful rehabilitation at the end of the 20th century.

Last Updated: November 20, 2023

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Abbreviations:
VLR: Virginia Landmarks Register
NPS: National Park Service
NRHP: National Register of Historic Places
NHL: National Historic Landmark

For additional information Read

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