On February 10, 1958, Arlington Memorial Hospital opened at 800 W. Randol Mill Road. Construction took one year and cost $1 million (roughly $11 million today).

Though Arlington’s population neared 30,000 at the time, the city lacked a full-scale hospital. Residents relied on small clinics or long trips to Dallas and Fort Worth for specialized care. Arlington Memorial Hospital brought convenience and care, while featuring 75 beds, modern amenities, and a specialized staff. Within hours of opening, five patients were admitted; two babies were born the next day.

While the Vandergriff family donated the land, citizens raised $250,000 through a grassroots campaign, donating everything from spare change to significant pledges, making it a community effort. Arlington’s 1950s boom—fueled by General Motors (1954), Lake Arlington (1957), and the D-FW Turnpike (1957)—transformed the town from just 8,000 residents in 1950 into a bustling suburb of over 44,000 by 1960. Arlington Memorial Hospital remains a vital part of that era and the city’s growth.

Shown here: An invite to the Arlington Memorial Hospital’s Open House, held in January 1958,
where 2,500 came to tour the new facilities.
Photo Credit: Fort Worth Star-Telegram – January 19, 1958

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Blog post by Jason S. Sullivan, 02-10-26