Smallpox Hospital, Gothic Revival hospital ruins at Roosevelt Island, United States.
Description
The Smallpox Hospital is a hospital ruin on Roosevelt Island in the United States. The granite facade shows pointed arches and crenellated walls, while the side walls still reveal the positions of former rooms.
History
Architect James Renwick Jr designed the building, which opened in 1856 and was the first facility of its kind in the country. After the hospital closed, the building fell into decay during the 20th century and later received landmark protection.
Culture
The ruin carries the memory of an era when the island served as a place for treating contagious diseases. Today visitors walk past the weathered walls during their stroll along the riverside path.
Practical
The ruin stands at the southern end of the island and can be reached on foot from the northern end in about 20 minutes. A fence surrounds the structure, but visitors can view and photograph it from outside.
Did you know?
The building is the only official ruin in New York City protected as a landmark. At night the granite facade is illuminated and casts a marked shadow against the Manhattan skyline.
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