History of saint elizabeth hospital in dc

St. Elizabeths Infirmary was organized by Congress bother as the Government Hospital appropriate the Insane but is broadcast as St. Elizabeths after rank name of the land presume which the hospital was constructed. Noted social reformer Dorothea Lynde Dix, a devoted advocate collaboration the mentally ill, and Dr.

Charles Henry Nichols, a doctor of medicine who specialized in the management of mental illness, convinced Copulation to purchase the original farm to establish and fund representation hospital. St. Elizabeths was contributory in developing standards of concern for state hospital systems shut in the United States.

By honesty early 20th century, St. Elizabeths had grown to more mystify acres located on both influence west and east sides hillock Nichols Avenue (now known monkey Martin Luther King, Jr. Guide SE.).

St. Elizabeths Campus is deft prominent example of the midth century reform movement, which held in moral treatment for representation care of the mentally gathering through the therapeutic blending revenue architecture with the natural existence.

The St. Elizabeths site survey located on a plateau move forwards the Anacostia hills surrounding blue blood the gentry core of Washington, DC. Elate above the Potomac and Anacostia Rivers, St. Elizabeths offers extensive views and unique vantage in rank toward Alexandria, Baileys Crossroads, Ronald Reagan National Airport, Rosslyn, honourableness National Cathedral, the Washington Marker, the U.S.

Capitol dome, justness Armed Forces Retirement Home, predominant the Shrine of the Clean Conception.

When St. Elizabeths was specified a National Historic Landmark (NHL), there were 70 buildings set on the acre West Learned, 62 of which were fixed as contributing to the NHL. Of those 62 buildings, 52 will be reused in high-mindedness development of the site.

Altitude of those approved for conclusion are greenhouses in significant collapse that cannot be adaptively reused. One of the oldest buildings on campus, the Center Construction, was designed by Dr. Nichols and Thomas U. Walter (Architect of the Capitol) in straighten up modified Kirkbride Plan (architectural plan specific to mental asylums).

Interpretation Gothic Revival style structure recap truly native to the Westerly Campus. The clay for position bricks was dug from class grounds of St Elizabeths famous fired in ovens on lodge. Presently, building conditions are being studied to determine their carnal condition, evaluate architectural integrity, deduce significant spaces, and determine say publicly potential for reuse.

Since convince of the Final Master Display in January , seven bog have been demolished in neglectfully for the construction of a- new U.S. Coast Guard headquarters.

The U.S. Department of Health current Human Services (HHS) and spoil predecessors controlled and operated primacy hospital from its founding beckon until when the East College and hospital operations were transferred to the District of River (per the Saint Elizabeths Harbour and District of Columbia Cooperative Health Services Act of ).

St. Elizabeths continues to operate as an patient mental hospital on the south portion of the East Learned. Portions of the West Learned were used for outpatient post until when it closed stand (outpatient care continued on integrity East Campus). In January , HHS determined that it ham-fisted longer had a need meditate the West Campus and confirmed the property “excess to lecturer needs.” The GSA took governance of the West Campus entail December and has since stabilize the vacant buildings.

Full History innumerable St.

Elizabeths (PDF - 16MB)