Dedication of the I.W. Allen Memorial Hospital in 1957, delivered by Utah Governor George D. Clyde. Read the full dedication speech in the digital exhibition

This May, the Moab Museum’s curatorial team unveiled a new temporary exhibition at Moab Regional Hospital titled Moab’s Legacy of Care: A Brief History of Medical Services. The exhibit builds upon the Moab Museum’s range of storytelling beyond the Museum walls and will be on display indefinitely. Moab’s Legacy of Care is available to be viewed in the hallway connecting Moab Regional Hospital with the Canyonlands Care Center.

Moab’s Legacy of Care
Moab’s medical history is defined by dedicated caregivers both inside and outside hospital walls. From doctors making house calls on horseback to nurses hosting supply drives during pandemics, the Moab community has been adapting to rural healthcare challenges for over a century.

In times of financial hardship, the question has been posed, “What is a hospital worth?” But this question inspires yet another conversation, “What is a community’s health worth?”

Hannah Pittman was one of the hardworking nurses at the Grand County hospital beginning in 1939. Many thanks to the Pittman family for their assistance in sharing and curating these stories.

Whether excellence is achieved with a larger staff, state-of-the-art equipment, or specialized facilities, it’s the people of Moab and its medical professionals who perpetuate a legacy of healthcare excellence in Moab.

Moab’s Legacy of Care explores four distinct time periods of caregiving in the Moab Valley: before a hospital, Grand County Hospital, I. W. Allen Memorial Hospital, and at present, Moab Regional Hospital. Early healthcare in the Canyonlands region did not come easy, but with the dedication of many individuals, from nurses, non-Western practitioners, pharmacists, dentists, ophthalmologists, hospice care workers, Native healers, and other experts, Moabites have been offered a diverse range of options for community healthcare, options which have only grown since the first doctors and nurses of the Moab Valley.

A Digital Experience
Visitors are invited to explore the storylines in greater depth by visiting the digital exhibition at
moabmuseum.org/exhibition/legacy-of-care. There, profiles of prominent figures throughout Moab’s timeline of caregiving are available from J. W. “Doc” Allen, who accepted the position of “Health Officer” of Grand County for $150 a year and became the town’s sole practitioner until 1920, to “Grandma Brack” and “Aunt Sarah.” Both women were trained midwives and delivered hundreds of babies in locations far from any established medical practice. Stewart settled in Moab in 1880 and acted as Moab’s first doctor and nurse from her home on the corner of Center and Main Street, where Wells Fargo is today. Visitors can view additional documents within the digital exhibition such as Sarah Stewart’s recipe book, photos of Moab’s hospital over the years, and dedication speeches delivered at hospital openings.

Join us in welcoming a new exhibition to the community this spring at Moab Regional Hospital.

The Moab Museum is dedicated to sharing stories of the natural and human history of the Moab area. To explore more of Moab’s stories and artifacts, find out about upcoming programs, and become a member, visit www.moabmuseum.org.

Red Cliffs Lodge, on the banks of the mighty Colorado River, is home to the Moab Museum of Film & Western Heritage. The lodge is built on the old George White Ranch, a key location for nine of the big westerns including Rio Grande, Cheyenne Autumn, Ten Who Dared, The Commancheros, and Rio Conchos.

The late George White was founder of the Moab to Monument Valley Film Commission, the longest ongoing film commission in the world.

In the museum one can learn more about film locations, how the sets are built, and how the filming process is managed on nature’s own sound stage. On display in the museum are production photographs, movie posters, autographed scripts, props from the many pictures filmed in the area, and displays about the western ranching heritage. For information, call Red Cliffs Lodge at 435-259-2002.

Through the magnificent landscapes of southeastern Utah, writers have been inspired and stories born here. Zane Grey, the famous western novelist, traveled through the area in 1912. His visit inspired him to write his book Riders of the Purple Sage. The book was made into a movie starring Ed Harris and Amy Madigan, and filmed on locations around Moab.