North Omaha in Douglas County, Nebraska — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Fort Omaha Hospital
Fort Omaha Walking Tour
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 17, 2012
1. Fort Omaha Hospital Marker
Maintaining the health and well-being of soldiers at Fort Omaha was accomplished only after overcoming serious obstacles.
One such obstacle was the shortage of potable water. By 1869 only two of the Fort’s wells were considered safe for drinking. The failure of newly dug wells resulted in the use of cistern water, and daily fatigue duty included the hauling and distribution of water. Weather permitting, men would bathe in the nearby Missouri River.
The first hospital, constructed on the northwestern section of the post, had wood-burning stoves and no indoor water closets. It was condemned in 1879 by the post surgeon as “totally uninhabitable.”
After the Army Signal Corps reopened the Fort in 1905, this hospital building was constructed and completed in 1906. It served as a recruiting facility for all military services in both world wars until the Navy departed in 1974. Originally, the building to the south housed Army nurses and later noncommissioned officers.
Erected by Metropolitan Community College, Historical Society of Douglas County, and Nebraska Committee for the Humanities. (Marker Number 13.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Forts and Castles • Science & Medicine
this page online
Location. 41° 18.407′ N, 95° 57.639′ W. Marker is in Omaha, Nebraska, in Douglas County. It is in North Omaha. Marker is on West Road, on the right when traveling south. Marker is in front of Building 17, on the Metropolitan Community College Campus. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Omaha NE 68111, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Fort Omaha Headquarters Building (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Fort Omaha Quartermaster Depot (about 700 feet away); Fort Omaha Officers Row (about 700 feet away); Ordnance Magazine (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Omaha Fire Station (approx. 0.2 miles away); Fort Omaha Post Exchange and Gymnasium (approx. 0.2 miles away); General Crook's Headquarters at Fort Omaha (approx. 0.2 miles away); President's House (approx. 0.2 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Omaha.
Also see . . . Fort Omaha. (Submitted on August 5, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.)
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 17, 2012
2. Fort Omaha Hospital Marker
Photographed By William Fischer, Jr., February 17, 2012
3. Fort Omaha Hospital and Marker
Photographed By Unknown, undated
4. Fort Omaha Walking Tour Map on Marker
Credits. This page was last revised on February 16, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 5, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania. This page has been viewed 526 times since then and 22 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 5, 2012, by William Fischer, Jr. of Scranton, Pennsylvania.
