Boulder City Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Boulder City Hospital |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Geography | |
| Location | 901 Adams Boulevard Boulder City, Clark County, Nevada, U.S. |
| Organisation | |
| Care system | Private |
| Hospital type | General and Teaching |
| Affiliated university | University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine (1969–2017) UNLV School of Medicine (2017–present) |
| Services | |
| Standards | Joint Commission |
| Emergency department | Yes |
| Helipad | Yes |
| Beds | 82 |
| History | |
| Founded | November 15, 1931 |
|
Old Boulder City Hospital
|
|
|
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
|
|
Site of the old hospital
|
|
 Location in Nevada
Location in the United States
|
|
| Location | 701 Park Place Boulder City, Nevada, U.S. |
|---|---|
| Built | November 15, 1931 |
| Architect | Six Companies |
| NRHP reference No. | 82003211 |
| Significant dates | |
| Added to NRHP | April 1, 1982 |
| Removed from NRHP | June 9, 2023 |
Boulder City Hospital is a hospital in Boulder City, Nevada. It has 82 beds for patients who need short-term care. It also has a special area with 47 beds for long-term care. Plus, there's a 10-bed center for older adults needing special behavioral medicine care.
Contents
Hospital History: From Dam to Today
The first hospital in Boulder City was built by a group called Six Companies. They were the ones building the famous Hoover Dam. This first hospital opened on November 15, 1931, with 20 beds. It closed in 1935 after the dam was finished.
The hospital reopened in 1943. A new hospital building was opened on December 8, 1973. It was located about a mile away from the old one. The old hospital building was used for a while as a retreat home. But it was taken down in late 2015. The place where the old hospital stood was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Building the First Hospital
The very first hospital in Boulder City was built by Six Companies. This group was in charge of building the Hoover Dam. The government agency that usually handles health in towns, the U.S. Public Health Service, didn't have enough money to build a hospital. Another agency, the Bureau of Reclamation, felt it was Six Companies' job. This was because most workers were employed by them. So, they made a deal. Government workers could also use the hospital.
The hospital was built on a hill. It had a great view of the Eldorado Valley and the McCullough Mountains. You could also see the Colorado River. Construction started in August 1931. The hospital opened on November 15, 1931. It cost about $20,000 to build.
The building was made of brick and white stucco. It had 20 beds and a special area for bone injuries. There was also a separate building called the "Pest House." This was an eight-bed area for people with contagious diseases. In 1933, a new wing was added for isolation, and the Pest House was removed.
Workers for Six Companies paid $1.50 each month from their paychecks. This fee allowed them to use the hospital. However, their families had to go to Las Vegas for medical care.
When the Hoover Dam was finished in 1935, Six Companies left Boulder City. The hospital then closed. People needing medical help had to travel to Las Vegas. Sometimes, this travel time was too long in emergencies. In 1938, the National Park Service took over the building. They turned it into a museum and office. The Park Service left in 1941, and the building was empty for two years.
Hospital During War and Community Help
In December 1943, the U.S. Public Health Service reopened the hospital. It was used to care for soldiers injured in the war. The Bureau of Reclamation wanted to build a new hospital. They had the money, but building materials were hard to find during the war. So, they fixed up the old hospital instead. The Health Service provided refurbished equipment. Town residents helped clean and repair old X-ray machines, sterilizers, and beds. These items came from hospitals all over the country.
The people of Boulder City also raised money for an ambulance. They even started a group of volunteers to drive it. For $15 a year, you could get one ride to the hospital.
In 1949, the Bureau of Reclamation took control of the hospital. It kept losing money. The hospital served the city well, but it was expensive for the government. In 1954, the Bureau suddenly decided to stop running the hospital. If Boulder City wanted to keep it, they had to raise $15,000 in just two weeks. This money was needed for running costs and upkeep. The townspeople quickly started a "Save the Hospital" campaign. They went door-to-door asking for donations. By March 18, 1954, they had raised more than $15,000. The hospital was then handed over to the citizens on April 15, 1954.
Community Support and a New Hospital
The Boulder City Hospital Auxiliary was formed by local women. They helped with hospital work and raised money to keep the hospital running. In 1963, the Auxiliary started a fundraising event that became very popular. This was the Boulder City Hospital Auxiliary art festival, called "Art in the Park." The first festival raised $3,000. It featured fifty artists, including James Swinnerton.
On December 8, 1973, a brand new Boulder City Hospital opened its doors. This new hospital was located on Adams Boulevard. The old Six Companies Hospital building on the hill became run down. In 1976, a group called the Sisters of Charity bought the old building. They started fixing it up in 1980. They turned the hospital into a retreat house called Wellspring. The building was officially opened on April 5, 1981. A year later, it was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
