Midtown in Savannah in Chatham County, Georgia — The American South (South Atlantic)

Candler Hospital

Photographed by Mike Stroud, January 18, 2009

1. Candler Hospital Marker

Inscription. Georgia's first hospital, Candler is the second oldest continuously operating hospital in the United States. Its history began in the 1730s when Methodist missionary George Whitfield brought medicines to treat sick seamen and the poor. Chartered in 1804 as a seaman's hospital and poor house, it was later incorporated in 1808 under the name Savannah Poor House and Hospital Society. In 1819, the hospital moved to Gaston Street where it remained for 160 years. After Union forces occupied Savannah, the building served as a Union Hospital until 1866. Renamed the Savannah Hospital in 1872, it later housed the city's first nursing school which opened in 1902. The Methodist Church purchased the hospital in 1930, renaming it for Bishop Warren A. Candler. In 1960, the hospital joined forces with the country's oldest woman's hospital, Mary Telfair. In 1978 groundbreaking ceremonies were held on this site and the facility was completed in October 1980. In 1992 it was renamed Candler Hospital and in 1997, the hospital entered a joint operating agreement with St. Joseph's Hospital, forming St. Joseph Candler Health System.

Erected 2004 by Georgia Historic Marker. (Marker Number 25-3.)

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work

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• Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Georgia Historical Society series list. A significant historical month for this entry is October 1980.

Location. 32° 1.695′ N, 81° 6.046′ W. Marker is in Savannah, Georgia, in Chatham County. It is in Midtown. It can be reached from Reynolds Street. East end of Center Driveway. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 5353 Reynolds St, Savannah GA 31405, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Coastal Plain and on the Georgia Coast and the Golden Isles.

It is also in the American South

and specifically in the Deep South.

Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region,

North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain,

the territory of the Mississippian Culture,

one of the original Thirteen Colonies,

one of the Confederate States of America,

and the Antebellum South.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Telfair Hospital for Females (here, next to this marker); Byrd Cookie Company (approx. 1.3 miles away); Savannah High School (approx. 1.4 miles away); Malcolm R. Maclean (approx. 1½ miles away); American Grand Prize Races (approx. 1½ miles away); a different marker also named Malcolm R. Maclean (approx. 1.6 miles away); Roll of Honor (approx. 1.6 miles away); Robert “Robbie” Robinson (approx. 1.9 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Savannah.

Regarding Candler Hospital. St. Joseph's/Candler Health System may have dual faith affiliations, but there's no dueling faiths here. The health care system is made up of the Catholic St. Joseph's Hospital and the Methodist Candler Hospital; a joint operating agreement

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2009

2. Candler Hospital Marker

allows the two facilities to coexist. The two hospitals, which merged into one health system in 1997, have a total of almost 620 beds. Specialty services include cardiology, orthopedics, and oncology.

Also see . . . Candler Hospital History. Timeline (Submitted on February 7, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina.)

Candler Hospital Marker at right, shares location with Telfair Hospital for Females Marker, center image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Mike Stroud, 2009

3. Candler Hospital Marker at right, shares location with Telfair Hospital for Females Marker, center

Credits. This page was last revised on February 8, 2023. It was originally submitted on February 7, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. This page has been viewed 3,074 times since then and 62 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 7, 2009, by Mike Stroud of Bluffton, South Carolina. • Kevin W. was the editor who published this page.