Boston Consumptives Hospital

Boston Consumptives Hospital is a complex of eighteen buildings spread across 52 acres in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood, featuring Colonial Revival and Italianate architectural styles. The various structures were designed to accommodate different patient treatment approaches and medical care needs.

The hospital was established in 1908 and served as Massachusetts' largest tuberculosis treatment center at that time. It emerged during an era when tuberculosis was among the leading causes of death alongside pneumonia.

The facility buildings, designed by architectural firms Maginnis and Walsh and James H. Ritchie, represent various styles including Italianate, Craftsman, and Art Deco.

The complex is located at 249 River Street in Boston's Mattapan neighborhood and is accessible by public transportation. Since the buildings are spread across the large site, visitors should plan for adequate time to explore the full grounds.

During its peak years the facility treated more than ten thousand tuberculosis patients, making it a central institution in Boston's public health system. This volume demonstrates the scale of the disease in early twentieth-century America.