In the late 1940s, Seattle was desperately short on hospital beds. Also, seven of the eight general hospitals in Seattle were downtown, and in a major emergency the bridges linking the north and south ends of town could be destroyed leaving it virtually impossible to reach one of these facilities. Worse yet, in an atomic attack, which was greatly feared at that time, all hospitals could be destroyed at once. At the recommendation of state health planners and the Atomic Energy Commission, plans were made to build new hospitals in the suburbs where people were living. The goal for Northwest Hospital was to create a very warm and comfortable environment with a lovely view for each patient. Following is a timeline that features highlights of our history:

1949
For $33,000, Hospital Association purchases the 35 acres on which to build Northwest Hospital.

July 6, 1959
Construction begins.

July 23, 1959
Groundbreaking ceremonies are held.

September 22, 1960
The sparkling new hospital opens for business.

September 23, 1960
First baby born at Northwest Hospital, a 7 lb. 6 oz. boy.

February 8, 1961
The hospital is at capacity for the first time.

1961
Physical Therapy opens.
At the time of the hospital’s second birthday, the hospital admits its 20,000th patient.

1965
Radioisotope Magna Scanner added.
Northwest Professional Center opens.
Childbirth classes start for prospective parents.

1966
The 10,000th baby is born at Northwest Hospital.

1967
Comprehensive Rehabilitation Program begins.
Inhalation Therapy Department opens.
Northwest breaks its own record for the most babies in one month with 250^th baby born.
Speech and Language Clinic opens.
First hospital addition (D-Wing) opens and serves as the Coronary Intensive Care Unit.

1968
Speech and Language Clinic begins a diagnostic and therapeutic program for hearing disorders.

1969
Stroke Center begins operation.
Progressive Care Center (PCC) opens.

1970s
Surgery doubles in size.
Northwest is the first in Seattle to provide a birth suite for labor, delivery, recovery, and postpartum care (LDRPs).

1971
Nuclear Medicine opens.

1973
Emergency Department is expanded with 2,000-square-foot addition.

1974
Medical Arts Building is constructed.

October 4, 1977
Northwest Hospital Foundation established.

September 20, 1980
20th anniversary of the opening of Northwest Hospital.
Groundbreaking for the hospital tower.

1982
Tower opens, doubling the square footage of the hospital.

1984
Medical Office Building opens.

1985
Separate facility for day surgery opens.
Physicians at Northwest Hospital pioneer prostate cancer treatment with ultrasound-guided radioactive seed implants.

1988
Easy Street Environments for rehabilitation opens.

1993
Northwest is the first hospital in the region to offer non-surgical treatment of brain tumors through the use of Gamma Knife®.

1998
Northwest is voted “Best Place to Have Baby” by readers of Seattle’s Child.

2001
Remodeled lobby and expanded Emergency Department opens.

2003
Northwest opens Advanced Surgical Suites for minimally invasive surgical procedures.