Roosevelt Island in Manhattan in New York County, New York — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
Smallpox Hospital
Roosevelt Island, New York
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 13, 2022
The Building
The Smallpox Hospital is a Gothic Revival structure designed by renowned architect James Renwick, Jr. which opened to the public on December 18, 1856. It was the first hospital in the country dedicated to treating smallpox, a highly contagious and deadly viral disease.
The Architect
James Renwick, Jr. was a prolific architect whose first commission, at the age of 23, was Grace Church in New York City. He went on to complete St. Patrick's Cathedral on Manhattan's Fifth Avenue and the Smithsonian Institution building in Washington, DC. He was also the supervising architect of the lighthouse located on the northern tip of Roosevelt Island.
Importance as a Structure
The structure is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and the New York State Register of Historic Places. The ruin is also designated a New York City Landmark by the Landmarks Preservation Commission.
From a Hospital to a Ruin
The original footprint of the Smallpox Hospital was the rectangular central bay, which measured roughly 100 feet by 40 feet and was three stories in height. The building was constructed of granite quarried on the island and was built by prison labor. In 1875, the hospital was renamed Riverside Hospital and in 1886, the building was converted to a nursing school called the Home for the Nurses of the Maternity and Charity Hospital Training School. The northern and southern wings were completed in the early 1900s in order to provide additional space for classrooms, laboratories, and dormitories.
In the 1950s, the nursing school closed and the building was abandoned. It was stripped of floor planes, stairwells, and windows. The Gothic ruin has been empty ever since. What exists today is largely its shell.
For More Information
Find a full history of the Smallpox Hospital, available in partnership with the Roosevelt Island Historical Society, at www.TheRuin.org.
Erected by Roosevelt Island Historical Society.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Education • Landmarks • Science & Medicine. A significant historical date for this entry is December 18, 1856.
Location. 40° 45.111′ N, 73° 57.584′ W. Marker is in Manhattan, New York, in New York County. It is on Roosevelt Island. Marker is on East Road south of Road 3, on the left when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1 FDR Four Freedoms Park, New York NY 10044, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. History / An Island Named for Roosevelt (a few steps from this marker); a different marker also named Smallpox Hospital
Photographed By Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 13, 2022
Credits. This page was last revised on January 31, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 53 times since then and 13 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on August 17, 2022, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.