source: chingers7 on flickr
The first hospital in the colonies, the Pennsylvania Hospital, was chartered in 1751 by the PA Assembly. The brainchild of Dr. Thomas Bond and Benjamin Franklin (of course), the hospital received great support from the city and set Philadelphia apart as a center for medicine in the new world. The beautiful building on Pine St between 8th and 9th was begun in 1755 and finished after the Revolution. Here it is in 1876:
source: phillyhistory.org
The inscription on the cornerstone, penned by Franklin, says:
In the year of Christ
1755
George the second happily reigning
(for he sought the happiness of his people)
Philadelphia flourishing
(for its inhabitants were publick spirited)
this building
by the bounty of the government,
and of many private persons,
was piously founded
for the relief of the sick and miserable;
may the God of mercies
bless this undertaking.
Franklin helped to raise funds for the project by "introducing what may have been the first dollar-matching scheme in American history. He prevailed upon the Assembly to grant £2000 to the hospital only when a like amount was privately raised."
Now part of the University of Pennsylvania Health System (UPenn being another pet project of the ubiquitous Franklin), Pennsylvania Hospital is still going strong. Here is a history of the hospital. The virtual tour is particularly interesting.
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