Campus of St. Elizabeths Hospital facts for kids

St. Elizabeths Hospital is a very old and important place in Southeast Washington, D.C.. It was built a long time ago to help people who were struggling with their mental health. This hospital has many historic buildings, some of which are still standing today. Let's explore some of the main buildings that make up this interesting campus!

Welcome to St. Elizabeths Hospital!

St. Elizabeths Hospital opened its doors in 1856. It was one of the first hospitals in the United States built by the government to care for people with mental illnesses. The hospital is divided into two main areas: the West Campus and the East Campus. Each campus has its own unique buildings with interesting histories.

Exploring the West Campus Buildings

The West Campus is home to some of the oldest and most famous buildings at St. Elizabeths. Many of these buildings were designed to help patients feel comfortable and recover.

The Center Building (Numbers 1–4) was one of the first to open in 1856. It was the heart of the hospital for many years. Other buildings like Garfield Hall (Number 5, opened 1872), Pine Hall (Number 6, opened 1884), and Willow Hall (Number 8, opened 1895) were later connected to the Center Building.

Howard Hall (Numbers 9–10) opened in 1892 but was taken down in 1960. Allison Hall (Numbers 23–26) opened in 1899. Atkins Hall (Number 31) has been around since 1878.

Later buildings on the West Campus include Hitchcock Hall (Number 37, 1910) and Hagan Hall (Number 38, 1942). Many buildings with letter names like J Building (Number 60), L Building (Number 64), K Building (Number 67), Q Building (Number 68), E Building (Number 69), M Building (Number 72), C Building (Number 73), and B Building (Number 75) all opened around 1902. The A Building (Number 74) opened a little later in 1904.

A very modern addition to the West Campus is the Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building, which opened in 2013. This building now serves as the main office for the U.S. Coast Guard.

Discovering the East Campus Buildings

The East Campus also has many important buildings, some of which were used for farming and other activities that supported the hospital.

The Dry Barn / Cow Barn (Number 82) opened in 1884. The Horse Barn / Stable (Number 83) opened in 1902. These buildings helped the hospital grow its own food and manage its grounds.

The Blackburn Laboratory (Number 88) opened in 1931. The R Building (Number 89) opened in 1902.

Several buildings are part of the Maple Quadrangle. These include the W. W. Eldridge Building (Number 90, 1931), Glenside (Number 91, 1923), Charles H. Nichols Building (Number 92, 1936), and William A. White Building (Number 93, 1934).

Other notable buildings on the East Campus are the N Building (Number 94, 1902), I Building (Number 95, 1902), and P Building (Number 100, 1902). The Tuberculosis Building / Behavioral Studies Building (Number 102) opened in 1933.

A group of buildings known as the Continued Treatment Complex includes CT Building 3 (Godding) (Number 106, 1938), CT Building 4 (Noyes) (Number 107, 1939), CT Building 5 (Godding) (Number 108, 1940), CT Kitchen & Cafeteria Building (Number 109, 1933), CT Building 6 (Godding) (Number 110, 1940), CT Building 1 (Richardson) (Number 111, 1933), CT Building 2 (Richardson) (Number 112, 1933), CT Building 8 (Noyes) (Number 115, 1943), and CT Building 7 (Noyes) (Number 116, 1943).

Some buildings on the East Campus were later taken down, such as Barton Hall (Number 117, 1946), Haydon Building (Number 119, 1952), Dorothea Dix Pavilion (Number 120, 1959), John Howard Pavilion (Number 122, 1960s), and the Rehabilitation Medicine Building (Number 124, 1963).

The Chapel (Number 121) opened in 1955. A new hospital building was completed in 2010. Newer additions include the Gateway DC Pavilion (2013) and the St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena (2018).

Images for kids

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  The historic Center Building, opened in 1856.

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  Howard Hall, built in 1892.

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  Atkins Hall, which opened in 1878.

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  Hitchcock Hall, completed in 1910.

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  Hagan Hall, built in 1942.

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  The J Building, opened in 1902.

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  The L Building, also from 1902.

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  The K Building, another 1902 structure.

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  The Q Building, opened in 1902.

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  The M Building, from 1902.

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  The C Building, opened in 1902.

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  The A Building, completed in 1904.

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  The B Building, opened in 1902.

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  The modern Douglas A. Munro Coast Guard Headquarters Building.

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  The Dry Barn / Cow Barn, built in 1884.

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  The Horse Barn / Stable, opened in 1902.

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  Blackburn Laboratory, completed in 1931.

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  The R Building, opened in 1902.

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  The W. W. Eldridge Building, part of the Maple Quadrangle.

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  The Charles H. Nichols Building, opened in 1936.

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  The William A. White Building, completed in 1934.

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  The N Building, opened in 1902.

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  The I Building, also from 1902.

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  The P Building, opened in 1902.

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  The Tuberculosis Building, now called the Behavioral Studies Building.

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  CT Building 3 (Godding), part of the Continued Treatment Complex.

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  CT Building 4 (Noyes), another part of the Continued Treatment Complex.

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  CT Building 5 (Godding), opened in 1940.

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  The CT Kitchen & Cafeteria Building.

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  CT Building 6 (Godding), completed in 1940.

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  CT Building 1 (Richardson), opened in 1933.

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  CT Building 2 (Richardson), also from 1933.

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  CT Building 8 (Noyes), opened in 1943.

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  CT Building 7 (Noyes), also from 1943.

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  The Chapel, built in 1955.

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  The Gateway DC Pavilion, a newer addition.

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  The St. Elizabeths East Entertainment and Sports Arena.