Ripley Memorial Hospital, former maternity hospital in Minneapolis, Minnesota
Ripley Memorial Hospital is a late 19th-century hospital building in Harrison originally designed as a maternity facility. The structure features typical period characteristics with brickwork and large windows that allowed natural light into the wards.
The hospital was founded in 1886 by Dr. Martha Ripley to serve women without financial means during childbirth. After her death in 1912, the building was completed in 1916 and renamed in her honor, operating until 1957 when it closed due to lack of funding.
The hospital served as a refuge for women facing difficult circumstances, particularly unmarried or struggling mothers seeking care. It represents how community-based healthcare institutions centered on women's needs and shaped the social fabric of the neighborhood.
The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and stands in a quiet residential neighborhood. Visitors can view the exterior structure from the sidewalk and observe the architectural details from its period.
The site was redeveloped in 2007 as Ripley Gardens, affordable housing for people with low to moderate incomes. The renovation preserved the historic architecture while making the building functional for contemporary residential use.
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