Massachusetts General Hospital, Bulfinch Building
Massachusetts General Hospital, Bulfinch Building, Historic medical facility in West End, Boston, US.
Description
The Bulfinch Building at Massachusetts General Hospital is an early 19th century medical facility featuring white granite walls, a central Ionic portico, and a two-story rectangular form crowned by a saucer dome. The structure houses medical offices and educational spaces for the hospital today.
History
Built between 1818 and 1823 by architect Charles Bulfinch, the structure became a milestone in medical history. The building was expanded in 1844 to accommodate additional patients and medical facilities.
Culture
The building houses the Ether Dome, an operating theater where doctors first demonstrated ether anesthesia to the public on October 16, 1846.
Practical
The building is part of the main campus of Massachusetts General Hospital and can be viewed from outside, with its classical architecture clearly visible from the street. Visitors should note that this is an active hospital, and access to certain areas may be restricted.
Did you know?
Prisoners from Charlestown Prison shaped the granite blocks for the walls, using stone quarried specifically from Chelmsford, Massachusetts. This unusual partnership between a prison and a hospital defined the building's exterior.
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