Providence Lying-In Hospital, hospital in Rhode Island, United States
The Providence Lying-In Hospital is a building in Providence completed in 1926 and designed in Late Gothic Revival style with tall pointed arches and detailed stonework. The four and a half story structure was designed by architect Edward Stevens and is accompanied by a Nurses' Home built in 1933 that matches its architectural character.
The hospital was built in the early 1920s to address the need for specialized childbirth facilities and was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1986. Its establishment marked a turning point in Rhode Island healthcare, linking professional nurse training with maternal care services.
This hospital was the first in Rhode Island to specialize in childbirth care and train midwives and nurses in maternal health. The focus on supporting mothers and newborns shaped how the community approached women's healthcare for generations.
The building is located on Maude Street in Providence and is easy to spot due to its distinctive Gothic Revival architecture. Visitors should note that the site no longer operates as a hospital but now provides rehabilitation and hospice care services.
The hospital was originally known as Women and Infants Hospital and helped reshape how childbirth care was understood in New England during the early 20th century. This shift away from home births to institutional care represented a significant change in medical practice and social attitudes toward maternal health.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
