Sioux San Hospital facts for kids

The Rapid City Indian Health Service Hospital, also known as the Sioux San Hospital, is a special hospital in Rapid City, South Dakota. It is part of the Indian Health Service, which provides healthcare for Native American communities. This building has a long and important history. It started as a school in 1898 and later became a hospital.

A Look Back: The Hospital's History

From School to Hospital: Early Years

The building that is now Sioux San Hospital began as a school in 1898. It was called the Rapid City Indian School. This school was located on the west side of Rapid City, South Dakota.

The Boarding School Era

Many Native American children were sent to this school. They came from tribes like the Sioux, Cheyenne, Shoshone, Arapaho, Crow, and Flathead. The government wanted these children to learn European American culture and language. This was a difficult time for many students. They faced tough conditions and were often separated from their families. The school closed its doors in 1933.

Becoming a Sanitarium: A Time of Healing

After the school closed, the building was empty for a few years. In the early 1900s, a serious illness called tuberculosis (TB) was spreading. Many people, especially Native Americans, became very sick.

The Sioux Sanitarium Opens

Because of the TB outbreak, the old school building was turned into a large hospital in 1939. It was named the Sioux Sanitarium. This hospital was specifically for Native American patients with TB. Life at the sanitarium was very challenging for patients. A Lakota woman named Madonna Swan shared her experiences from when she was there between 1944 and 1950. She described it as a very difficult place. Patients were often not allowed to go outside. The food they received was sometimes not safe to eat.

Closing the Sanitarium

Over time, new medicines were discovered to treat TB. One important medicine was streptomycin. With better treatments available, the need for large TB hospitals like Sioux San decreased. The Sioux Sanitarium closed in the 1960s.

Sioux San Today: A Community Health Center

After the sanitarium closed, the building was empty again for several years. However, Native American elders and community members worked hard to get better health services. They reminded the government about promises made in treaties.

Reopening as a Clinic

In 1966, their efforts led to the building reopening. It became an Indian Health Service clinic. This clinic provides important healthcare services to the community. The campus still has unmarked graves from the past. These include graves of both TB patients and Native American children from the school days.

Recent Updates and Future Plans

In 2009, the hospital faced a big challenge. There were so many patients with the H1N1 flu that they had to temporarily cancel regular appointments. This showed how important the hospital is to the community. In 2016, the United States Congress provided $117 million to improve the hospital. There were plans to update and even remove some of the older buildings.