Walter Reed Army Medical Center has a significant history and reputation as one of the leading military medical facilities in the world. The story of Walter Reed as an institution began at the turn of the 20th century when Army and medical officials determined that the hospital at Washington Barracks (later Fort Leslie McNair) was unsuitable for medical treatment. The hospital commander, Maj. William C. Borden, envisioned a new medical facility with a hospital, the Army Medical Museum (1862), the Army Medical School (1893) and the Army's medical library located together.

In 1905, Borden presented his proposal before the U. S. Congress and one congressman dismissed it as “Borden's Dream.“ The joke has now become part of the history at Walter Reed. Congress did appropriate the necessary funds for the hospital and the Army formally named it in honor of Maj. Walter Reed, a close friend and colleague of Borden.

Forty-three acres were purchased for $100,000 in 1906, and construction on the new hospital and other buildings began in 1908.

Borden's dream never fully materialized during his lifetime, but on May 1, 1909, the newly-designated Walter Reed U. S. Army General Hospital opened its doors to patients and began medical care.

The original hospital building had 80-bed capacity, administrative offices and several wards, including a prison ward in the basement. In 1911, the nurses' quarters were constructed for a dozen female nurses. In 1917, dozens of wood structures were erected to manage the wounded and sick from World War I. The hospital and its wards had a bed capacity of 2,500. In fact, both World War I and World War II caused major changes, building phases and added more medical functions on the Walter Reed campus.

In 1923, the Army moved its medical school to Walter Reed and also established the “Army Medical Center.“ Brig. Gen. James Glennan became the center's first commander while retaining command of the hospital. The command relationship of the commander overseeing both major entities continued even when on Sept. 13, 1951, the Army redesignated Walter Reed General Hospital as Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Eventually, the campus and garrison property would expand to 113 acres with dozens of buildings, military stores called “post exchanges“ along with a theater, sports center and gyms, swimming pools, many wards and barracks for Soldiers.

In recent times, outpatient care has become a major aspect especially with two Fishers Houses (1994 and 2004) and the Mologne House (1997) on Walter Reed's main installation that provide lodging for Soldiers and Families. Hundreds of thousands of patients have been treated at Walter Reed over the years. For example, in 1943 alone, 18,000 people were admitted. Some of the prominent patients were U.S. presidents Harry S. Truman, Dwight Eisenhower and Richard Nixon. General John Pershing lived on the third floor of the old hospital from 1941 until 1948 when he died. Others who received treatment here were Generals George Marshall, Douglas MacArthur, Mark Clark and Norman Schwarzkopf just to name a few.

Medical services and research were a key element with many important innovations and functions developed at Walter Reed. In 1953, the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research was established and located with the Army Medical School. In 1955, the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology moved on campus into Bldg. 54, which is one of the few atomic bomb proof structures ever built.

Perhaps the most massive construction project was the new hospital complex, later named after Lt. Gen. Leonard Heaton, former Army Surgeon General and commander of Walter Reed from 1951 to 1959. Known today also as the Heaton Pavilion (Bldg. 2), groundbreaking for the main hospital was in 1972, and the dedication occurred Sept. 26, 1977. To clear the way for the new hospital and the park ellipse area that is over the patient parking garage, more than 30 buildings or structures were demolished.

Walter Reed has always been an institution of the future, offering patients the latest medical and technological advances in health care. As a result of the Global War on Terrorism, Soldier and Family care have become significant areas of concern, especially with outpatient services and rehabilitation of injured Soldiers who want to remain in the military. In past conflicts such serious wounds would have caused these Soldiers to be discharged, yet now many of them can remain on active duty after training and rehabilitation. In 2007, the Warrior Transition Brigade and the Military Advanced Training Center opened to make this possible. (Walter Reed Army Medical Center History Center)