Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital traces its history back to the early 1900's. The Reverend Paul Koren, a minister at Washington Prairie Church, was intent upon establishing a hospital in Decorah. Through many individual donations Koren raised $15,000. In 1914, Decorah Hospital opened its doors.
In 1965, the Smith Memorial Hospital Board of Trustees felt a new hospital should be built and would need county support for its construction. On January 1, 1969, the Smith Memorial Hospital dissolved its ownership and donated the building, equipment and funds to the county. Winneshiek County Memorial Hospital at its present site opened for occupancy on February 3, 1971.
With dramatic changes in the healthcare industry since 1971, the hospital has made major physical renovations. To accommodate the growth in outpatient care, the hospital has added a same day services unit and expanded emergency, laboratory, rehabilitation, surgery, and outreach departments.
