On Aug. 2, 1878, the Sisters of Charity of Providence opened Seattle’s first hospital at Fifth Avenue and Madison Street, paying $5,000 for the property where they constructed a three-story, wood-frame structure.

In 1856 Mother Joseph of the Sacred Heart and four Sisters of Providence from Montreal were sent West to serve the growing pioneer community of Fort Vancouver in Washington Territory.  The Sisters of Providence incorporated in 1859 with the Washington territorial government for “the relief of needy and suffering humanity, in the care of orphans, invalids, the sick and poor, and education of youth.”

The hospital served 88 patients in the first 17 months, and in 1911 the Sisters constructed a larger hospital at 17th Avenue and Jefferson Street. Today it is the second oldest surviving nonprofit corporation in the state of Washington.