Originally known as the Cherokee Sanitarium, this hospital began in 1919 as a nine-bed facility in a small Jacksonville apartment house. In 1925, a larger facility was constructed, and five years later, the hospital was renamed to honor Nan Travis (1854-1919), the mother of staff doctors J. M. and R. T. Travis. Over time, the medical institution has grown to serve citizens from all over East Texas. Building expansion programs accommodated the growth and changes in health care during the 20th century. In 1997, Nan Travis merged with a larger system to become the East Texas Medical Center - Jacksonville. (2001)