Naval Medical Center Portsmouth

• Oldest Continuously Operating Hospital: Naval Medical Center Portsmouth (NMCP) is the oldest continuously operating hospital in the U.S. Navy, established in 1827. • Historic Civil War Role: During the Civil War, the hospital was captured and used by both Union and Confederate forces, treating wounded soldiers from both sides. • First Navy Nurse Corps Assignment: In 1908, the first 20 Navy nurses, known as "The Sacred Twenty," were assigned to NMCP, marking the birth of the Navy Nurse Corps. • Architectural Landmark: The hospital’s original Portsmouth building, known as "Building One," is a National Historic Landmark and features a distinctive white cupola. • World War II Expansion: NMCP underwent massive expansions during World War II, treating over 100,000 wounded service members and prisoners of war. • Presidential Visit: President Franklin D. Roosevelt visited the hospital in 1942, boosting morale and underscoring the hospital's importance in wartime medicine. • Medical Innovations: NMCP has been at the forefront of medical innovations, including being one of the first to use penicillin and advanced surgical techniques in the military. • Training Future Leaders: The center is a major teaching hospital, training thousands of doctors, nurses, corpsmen, and allied health professionals each year. • 9/11 Response: Following the September 11 attacks, NMCP played a crucial role in treating casualties and supporting military readiness operations. • Ghost Stories: The historic Building One is rumored to be haunted, with reports of mysterious footsteps, voices, and apparitions dating back to the Civil War era.