Sight #10 Multnomah County Hospital

Multnomah County Hospital

Multnomah Pavilion, 3161 SW Pavilion Loop, Portland, OR (link is external)

The Multnomah County Hospital, now known as the Multnomah Pavilion and part of OHSU, was originally constructed by the County in 1923 to serve the County’s poorest residents. Predating this location, the County operated a hospital in an old, converted mansion on 2nd and Hooker Street. That building was dangerously overcrowded and a fire hazard. Eighty patients eventually transferred to this new building, which was planned to house 500 patients, but never actually exceeded 300.

In turn for the County’s furnishing the facility on their land, the University of Oregon’s medical school provided staff to treat the patients and oversaw all patient care. The original building was estimated at $500,000 but ended up with a $1.25 M price tag. The partnerships between the medical school and the County survived for 50 years and the facility was lauded by none other then Dr. Charles Mayo, of Mayo Clinic fame, as a model for advances in medical work.

In 1973 the hospital merged with the Medical School Hospital and the County ceased to have any involvement with it. The Multnomah Pavilion is the only remaining wing of the original structure.