Cabell Huntington Hospital: Seven decades of caring for our region

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

Founded in 1956, Cabell Huntington Hospital is marking seven decades of caring for the people of the Tri-State

Cabell Huntington Hospital in 1955

When Cabell Huntington Hospital opened its doors on January 7, 1956, Huntington gained more than a new hospital. Built through the vision and support of the community it serves, the hospital became a symbol of the region’s commitment to accessible, compassionate care close to home. It was the largest and most modern building in the community; 70 years later, that same spirit of innovation and service continues to define the hospital—now a cornerstone of the academic health system Marshall Health Network—as it celebrates its platinum anniversary.

From the very beginning, Cabell Huntington Hospital’s story has been inseparable from the people it serves. Facing a critical shortage of hospital beds since the early 1930s, citizens of Huntington and Cabell County resolved to build a new hospital for their community. And on May 13, 1952, community members approved $3 million in bonds that made construction possible, united by a shared understanding that Huntington needed a modern hospital equipped to support a growing region.

Over the decades, Cabell Huntington Hospital has continually evolved alongside the region, expanding services and investing in specialized care as medicine advanced and community needs changed, making it one of the 10 largest general hospitals in the state.

While Cabell Huntington Hospital’s history includes major milestones and medical achievements, its greatest legacy has always been its people.

As Cabell Huntington Hospital celebrates its 70th anniversary throughout 2026, it does so with deep gratitude for the community that built it, the teams who sustain it, and the patients who continue to place their trust in its care.

“The people who have worked here and cared for patients over the past seven decades are the heart of this hospital,” said Tim Martin, president of Cabell Huntington Hospital. “Their expertise, resilience and love for this community have shaped Cabell Huntington Hospital into what it is today. As we honor the legacy of those who built this institution, we remain focused on expanding services, strengthening partnerships and ensuring that every patient receives excellent care close to home.”

One of the hospital’s most important partnerships has been its longstanding collaboration with Marshall University. Through the Joan C. Edwards School of Medicine and the Marshall University School of Pharmacy, Cabell Huntington Hospital has built a strong academic–clinical environment that attracts physicians, prepares future health care leaders and brings emerging treatments and innovations to the region.

Cabell Huntington Hospital’s story is one of resilience, progress, an unwavering community purpose, a legacy still being written, and a mission that remains clear: to serve, to heal, and to ensure that exceptional care is always close to home.

As Cabell Huntington Hospital looks to the future, continued investments in technology, facilities, clinical services and workforce development will help ensure the hospital remains ready to meet the region’s health care needs for generations to come.

Milestones that shaped growth

1976: The hospital opened the region’s first Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), providing specialized care for critically ill newborns.
1998: Marshall University Medical Center was dedicated, strengthening the hospital’s academic partnership with Marshall University and expanding opportunities for clinical training and research.
2005: Edwards Comprehensive Cancer Center opened, offering multidisciplinary cancer care under one roof and bringing advanced oncology services closer to home.
2014: Hoops Family Children’s Hospital opened, expanding pediatric specialty care with a dedicated children’s hospital for the region.
2018: Cabell Huntington Hospital joined with St. Mary’s Medical Center to form Mountain Health Network.
2023: Cabell Huntington Hospital was named among America’s 100 Best Hospitals and joined Marshall University and Marshall Health to create the integrated academic health system now known as Marshall Health Network.
2026: Cabell Huntington Hospital earned the prestigious designation of the Top 50 Hospitals in the Nation and is the only hospital in West Virginia and the region to receive the distinction.

70 years at a glance: Then and Now

On December 28, 1955, Cabell Huntington Hospital marked the laying of its cornerstone during a small ceremony held outside the hospital in 20-degree weather. A time capsule placed within the cornerstone included the hospital’s articles of incorporation, a Bible and newspaper clippings documenting the decade-long effort to bring the hospital to life.

Although the ceremony took place in 1955, the cornerstone bears the inscription “A.D. 1954” because construction on the hospital officially began that year, according to hospital administrator Daniel M. Brown.

That same weekend, public open houses offered the community a first look at the largest and most modern building in the region. On January 7, 1956, the hospital welcomed its first patient, beginning seven decades of care for the tri-state.

Services	1956 – 1957 Annual report	FYE 2025
Admissions	8,164	24,890
Births	1,052	2,600
Meals Served	110,720	1,288,226
Pounds of Laundry	506,960	2,130,692
Number of Operations (surgeries)	4,225	11,562
X-ray/Imagin Procedures	8,765	228,210
Outpatient visits	NA	187,220
Beds	89	303
Employees	169	2,949

Cabell Huntington Hospital: Seven decades of caring for our region

Tuesday, August 11, 2026

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