Roosevelt Island Smallpox hospital

Description

Roosevelt Island Smallpox Hospital Opened in 1856, hospital on the southern tip of Blackwell's Island (now Roosevelt Island) was part of a multitude of public institutions to care for New York City's unfortunate & destitute. The island sits between Queens & Manhattan & was easily accessible by ferry; it was a prison, insane asylum & other similar facilities. The remote location made this a prime location for the care of victims of smallpox. Both charity cases & paying patrons were admitted.