History

OSF St. Mary Medical Center owes its humble origins to a Galesburg priest who passionately petitioned the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis to bring their unique brand of delivering compassionate and reliable medical service to this growing community.

News in 1909 that the Sisters would open another hospital in Galesburg was met with great enthusiasm and financial support as the Sisters selected a judge's home downtown to house the initial hospital. However, the Sisters always looked ahead as they remodeled this oversized house to accommodate an elevator to connect this structure to a modern hospital facility that became a reality in 1914 when the first of many construction projects was completed.

St. Mary's reputation as a caring institution spread throughout the region as it met the unique needs of a growing urban and rural population in central Illinois. The hospital expanded again to meet increased demand around 1930. Three decades later it continued to keep pace with modern medical practices and a changing and more health-conscious society.

Even after the major expansion in 1961, it became quickly evident that St. Mary's had outgrown its humble beginnings. After extensive study, the institution made a bold move to construct a new hospital on what was considerated far beyond the city limits on Galesburg's west side off Seminary Street. The new St. Mary's Medical Center opened in 1974 with a seamless transition that served patients breakfast at the old location and lunch at the new site in the same day.

Since then, the new campus has continued to evolve and expand with the latest in medical technology and sincere desire to serve this region at every stage of life while promoting healthy lifestyles. St. Mary has received numerous federal and state awards and citations for excellence and innovation over the years while still adhering to the basic principles the Sisters established when they opened the doors on September 8, 1909, to serve with the greatest care and love.