Temple in Bell County, Texas — The American South (West South Central)
King's Daughters Hospital
Photographed by James Hulse, February 9, 2026
1. King's Daughters Hospital Marker
Inscription.
King's Daughters Hospital opened in 1896 with cooperation of an interfaith organization and eight Temple-area physicians to help the poor. Among its first patients were a mother and her children. Donations came from throughout the state. The hospital first occupied a rented house and then a former church. By 1900, King's Daughters moved to South 22nd Street, where it evolved into a respected institution and among the oldest continuously operating hospitals in Texas. It also served as a line hospital for the Missouri-Kansas-Texas Railway. King's Daughters provided a school of nursing that included a diploma RN program and licensed vocational nurse training. Moving from its former location to this site in 1973, King's Daughters Hospital grew with the community it served, adding state-of-the-art surgical and medical specialties. Throughout its history, King's Daughters remained committed to family-centered health care. King's Daughters merged with Scott & White Healthcare in 2009 to become McLane Children's Hospital.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. A significant historical year for this entry is 1896.
Location. 31° 4.374′ N,
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97° 22.523′ W. Marker is in Temple, Texas, in Bell County. It is at the intersection of Southwest H K Dodgen Loop and Market Loop on Southwest H K Dodgen Loop. The marker is located at the main entrance to the hospital. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1901 SW H K Dodgen Loop, Temple TX 76502, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Texas. It is also in the American South. Globally, it is in North America, a Gulf of Mexico state, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain, the Republic of Texas, and one of the Confederate States of America.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 10, 2026. It was originally submitted on February 10, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas. This page has been viewed 127 times since then. Photos:1, 2. submitted on February 10, 2026, by James Hulse of Medina, Texas.
