Allegheny General Hospital

Courtesy of Brian Crawford

1 October 2019

Location:
320 E North Ave, Pittsburgh, PA 15212

Description:

Allegheny General Hospital, commonly referred to as "AGH," is situated in the Central Northside neighborhood of Pittsburgh. It holds the distinction of being Pennsylvania's first hospital to receive Level 1 shock trauma center designation and pioneered the provision of aeromedical services in the northeastern United States.

Originally established as a modest 50-bed infirmary housed within two adjacent brick rowhouses in what was then Allegheny City, just north of Pittsburgh, Allegheny General Hospital has since evolved into the academic flagship of Allegheny Health Network. Its roots trace back to 1882 when the hospital was chartered, and on February 15, 1886, it opened its doors to the public. Over time, expansions and enhancements marked its growth, including the establishment of a children's wing in 1887 and the initiation of an ambulance service in 1889, which the hospital managed for over six decades.

By the turn of the 20th century, plans were underway for a new and more spacious facility, located a block away from its original site along Stockton Avenue. This new seven-story, 400-bed hospital, inaugurated in 1904 at a cost of $620,000, featured modern laboratory amenities, reflecting advancements in medical technology.

In the 1920s, the hospital leadership embarked on yet another relocation project. Engaging the New York architecture firm York and Sawyer, plans were drawn for what would become one of the nation's pioneering "skyscraper" hospitals. Construction commenced in 1929, but the Great Depression halted progress for several years. Eventually, the ambitious 22-story, $8 million hospital was completed in 1936, cementing Allegheny General Hospital's position as a leading healthcare institution.