Dr. William F. Metcalf, Henry Ford and Others at the Groundbreaking for Detroit General Hospital, Later Known as Henry Ford Hospital, Detroit, Michigan, April 11, 1912

In 1909, several prominent Detroit philanthropists organized to build Detroit General Hospital for the city. They broke ground three years later for patient and service buildings. But when fundraising and construction stalled, Henry Ford took over the project in 1914. Henry Ford Hospital -- the new name honoring the new benefactor -- opened to patients on October 1, 1915.