Main Post in San Francisco City and County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)

Old Post Hospital

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, December 26, 2015

1. Old Post Hospital Marker

Inscription. From 1864 until 1899 this building served as the Presidio's principal medical facility.

This hospital originally consisted of a kitchen, ten rooms holding about 50 beds, and a morgue. It was later expanded to include a surgical wing and a biological laboratory - both housed in the octagonal addition on the right of the building.

Overwhelmed by sick and wounded troops during the Spanish-American War, the Presidio's main hospital moved a few hundred yards to the east to what would become known as Letterman General Hospital in 1899. The old Post Hospital continued to serve as an outpatient clinic and dispensary until the early 1970s, when it was converted to a museum.

Erected by National Park Service.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1864.

Location. Marker has been reported missing. It was located near 37° 48.024′ N, 122° 27.301′ W. Marker was in San Francisco, California, in San Francisco City and County. It was in Main Post. It was on Funston Avenue south of Lincoln Boulevard, on the left when traveling

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north. Touch for map. Marker was in this post office area: San Francisco CA 94129, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was on California’s Coast Ranges.

It was also on the American Pacific Coast.

Globally, it was in North America,

on the Ring of Fire,

in the Pacific Rim,

in the Western Hemisphere,

in the Western World,

and in the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once New Spain

and also Mexico’s Alta California.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this location: A different marker also named Old Post Hospital (here, next to this marker); Old Station Hospital (a few steps from this marker); French 24-Pounder (within shouting distance of this marker); Presidio of San Francisco (within shouting distance of this marker); Bringing A Creek Back to Life: Thompson Reach (within shouting distance of this marker); First Women in the Army: U.S. Army Nurse Corps (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Western Defense Command Headquarters (about 500 feet away); Old and New: Presidio Fire Station (about 500 feet away).

Old Post Hospital and Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Andrew Ruppenstein, December 26, 2015

2. Old Post Hospital and Marker

The marker is visible here in front of the hospital, with the Old Station marker also visible behind it, mounted to the building.

Touch for a list and map of all markers in San Francisco.

Also see . . .
1. Old Post Hospital (National Park Service). (Submitted on January 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.)
2. Presidio of San Francisco, Old Station Hospital (Historic American Buildings Survey). (Submitted on January 9, 2020.)

Post Hospital image. Click for full size.

San Francisco Examiner Library (courtesy of the Historic American Buildings Survey)

3. Post Hospital

"Significance: In 1864, in the midst of the Civil War, the Wright Army Hospital was built to replace an earlier, deteriorating structure. The elegant, southern style architecture was subdued by the urgency of the hospital's function through the wars. With a steady growth in hospital use, additions such as the west wing of 1889, the porch addition and the octagon of 1897 were established. Later, the structure served as a secondary hospital as the Army General Hospital was built. Through the Korean War, the Presidio of San Francisco and the Wright Army Hospital served as an "outback" station for the United States Army. In 1973, the hospital was converted into the Presidio Army Museum after its use as a hospital declined and the need to remember our heroes grew." Historic American Buildings Survey

Credits. This page was last revised on February 7, 2023. It was originally submitted on January 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California. This page has been viewed 502 times since then and 30 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 9, 2020, by Andrew Ruppenstein of Lamorinda, California.