Houston Negro Hospital, building in Houston, Harris County, Texas
Houston Negro Hospital is a building in Houston that opened in 1927 as the first nonprofit hospital for Black patients in the city. The structure displays Spanish Colonial Revival and Mission Revival architecture with arches, tile roofs, and decorative details, and later became known as Riverside General Hospital.
The hospital was established in 1926 and opened in 1927 with support from oilman Joseph Cullinan, who funded the project in honor of his son. A nursing school was added in 1931, the first training center for Black nurses in Houston, while the facility expanded services with modern additions like X-ray equipment and laboratories.
The hospital served as a place where Black doctors and nurses could work together and build a medical practice of their own. It represented the community's determination to create and control their own healthcare services independent of segregation barriers.
The building is located in the Third Ward neighborhood and can be viewed from outside to appreciate its historic architecture. Visit during daytime to see the facade details and surrounding neighborhood clearly.
The hospital opened on Juneteenth in 1927, a date celebrating the end of slavery in Texas, symbolizing freedom and progress for the community. A bronze plaque from Tiffany's was placed to honor the philanthropist's son and commemorate the institution's mission to serve the community.
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