Pennsylvania Hospital (first U.S. hospital and folklore)

Pennsylvania Hospital, founded in 1751 by Benjamin Franklin and Dr. Thomas Bond and located at this address, is the nation's first hospital. The complex contains historic 18th- and 19th-century buildings that are part of Philadelphia's medical heritage. Over time the site has accumulated ghost stories and tales of hauntings that circulate in local folklore and tour narratives, which are presented as legend rather than documented medical fact. Pennsylvania Hospital continues to operate as a modern medical facility.