Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Memorial Hospital

Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Memorial Hospital is a historic medical facility located in Walthill, Thurston County, Nebraska. It was named after Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, the first Native American woman to become a physician in the United States. The hospital was established in 1913 and served as a primary healthcare center for the Omaha tribe and the local community.

History[edit]

The hospital was founded by Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte, who was a member of the Omaha tribe. She was the first Native American woman to earn a medical degree, which she received from the Woman's Medical College of Pennsylvania in 1889. Dr. Picotte dedicated her life to improving the health and living conditions of her people. She worked tirelessly to raise funds and garner support for the construction of a hospital in her community.

The Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Memorial Hospital was opened in 1913, two years after Dr. Picotte's death. It was the first hospital built on a Native American reservation without government assistance. The hospital provided much-needed medical services to the Omaha tribe and the surrounding community.

Architecture[edit]

The hospital is a two-story, wood-frame building with a hipped roof. The building's design reflects the Colonial Revival architectural style, which was popular in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. The hospital's interior includes a waiting room, examination rooms, a surgery room, and living quarters for the staff.

Legacy[edit]

The Dr. Susan LaFlesche Picotte Memorial Hospital is a significant landmark in the history of Native American healthcare. It stands as a testament to Dr. Picotte's dedication to her people and her pioneering role in the field of medicine. The hospital was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.

In 2018, the National Trust for Historic Preservation included the hospital in its list of America's 11 Most Endangered Historic Places. Efforts are currently underway to restore the building and transform it into a museum dedicated to the life and work of Dr. Picotte.