Jordan Ellis
Charity Hospital, also known as Big Charity, was a public hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, that served the low-income population, residents of colour, and uninsured individuals in the Lower Mid-City area. Founded in 1736, it was the second-oldest continually operating hospital in the United States until its closure after sustaining severe flood damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hospital's rich history, architectural significance, and role in serving marginalized communities have been highlighted in various media, including documentaries and television shows. Despite efforts to renovate or restore the hospital, its closure and the shift towards privatization have left the Lower Mid-City community without accessible and affordable healthcare, amplifying existing segregation and inequalities in the area.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Charity Hospital, also known as "Big Charity" |
| Location | 1532 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana |
| History | Founded in 1736 by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder. It is the second oldest continually operating hospital in the USA. |
| Administration | Administered by the Sisters of Charity from 1834 onwards. Taken over by the Louisiana Department of Health and Human Resources in 1970. |
| Services | Served low-income populations, residents of colour, and uninsured individuals. Also served as a teaching hospital. |
| Hurricane Katrina | Sustained severe flood damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hospital was evacuated, but patients and personnel suffered in the heat with dwindling supplies. |
| Closure | Closed in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. There have been efforts to renovate or restore the hospital since. |
| Media | Featured in NY Med, MTV's The Real World: New Orleans, and a documentary film called Big Charity: The Death of America's Oldest Hospital. |
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What You'll Learn
Charity Hospital's history
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, was founded on May 10, 1736, by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder. Louis' last will and testament stated that his estate should be used to finance a hospital for the indigent in the colony of New Orleans. The hospital's name and location have changed multiple times in its nearly 300-year history, but it remains the second-oldest continually operating hospital in the United States.
In 1832, a fifth hospital was built on Common Street (modern-day Tulane Avenue) and came under the administration of the Sisters of Charity in 1834. In that year, Charity Hospital also began its long history as a teaching hospital with the founding of The Medical College of Louisiana by three American physicians: Dr. Thomas Hunt, Dr. Warren Stone, and Dr. John Harrison. The college used various locations, including Charity Hospital, which was "open every day for the attendance of the students". In 1843, the college petitioned the Legislature for land to build a medical school building, with the provision that the faculty would care for Charity Hospital's patients free of charge for 10 years—a tradition that continued into the 1960s.
In the 1930s, a new Charity Hospital building was constructed at 1532 Tulane Avenue as a Public Works Administration project. This building is a twenty-story art-deco style limestone structure.
Charity Hospital was one of two teaching hospitals that were part of the Medical Center of Louisiana at New Orleans (MCLNO), the other being University Hospital. Charity Hospital served an almost completely medically indigent population and struggled financially for decades. Despite these challenges, the hospital continued to serve the community, providing care for those who could not afford it.
In 2005, Charity Hospital was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina. The hospital was evacuated, and patients had to be ferried out through high floodwaters and then picked up by helicopter. The hospital sustained flood damage, and there were shortages of essential supplies and food. Despite the efforts of over 200 volunteers, including doctors, nurses, technical professionals, citizens, and military staff, who restored the hospital to working order within a few weeks, Charity Hospital did not reopen. The Louisiana State University System, which owns the building, stated that it had no plans to reopen the hospital in its original location. Instead, they chose to incorporate Charity Hospital into the city's new medical center in the lower Mid-City neighborhood, the University Medical Center New Orleans, completed in August 2015.
The closure of Charity Hospital and the construction of a replacement hospital in a low-income neighborhood, making it inaccessible to those it previously served, has been criticized. The documentary film "Big Charity: The Death of America's Oldest Hospital" by Alexander John Glustrom explores how Louisiana State University used Hurricane Katrina as an excuse to acquire a large payout of federal disaster funds while closing down the original Charity Hospital and building a replacement that was unaffordable to the indigent population it previously served.
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The impact of Hurricane Katrina
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, was severely impacted by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hospital, founded in 1736, was one of the oldest continually operating hospitals in the United States and served the poorest patients in one of America's poorest cities.
The hurricane caused extensive flood damage to the hospital, leading to a challenging evacuation process that made national headlines. Patients had to be ferried through high floodwaters and then airlifted from the roof of the hospital. Conditions during the evacuation were dire, with reports of backed-up toilets, dwindling supplies, and temperatures exceeding 100 degrees Fahrenheit. The situation was so severe that even medical personnel resorted to sharing IV fluids due to food shortages.
The impact of the hurricane resulted in the closure of Charity Hospital, which had a long history of providing medical care to those in need. The hospital had been administered by the Louisiana State University (LSU) System at the time of Hurricane Katrina and was part of the statewide LSU public hospital system. Despite its closure, there have been several efforts to renovate or restore Charity Hospital, including proposals to transform it into a state-of-the-art medical facility once again.
The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina also highlighted the challenges faced by public hospitals in serving indigent populations, particularly in the context of natural disasters. The storm displaced thousands of people, and the loss of hospital facilities and staff in the greater New Orleans area disrupted inpatient care and emergency services. The impact of the hurricane on Charity Hospital and the subsequent response from various organizations underscored the importance of disaster assistance and the need to restore essential healthcare services in affected communities.
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Other hospitals in Louisiana
Charity Hospital in New Orleans was founded in 1736 by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder. It is the second oldest continually operating hospital in the United States. The hospital was flooded during Hurricane Katrina in 2005, and patients had to be evacuated through high floodwaters. The building sustained severe damage, and the hospital was closed. There have been several efforts to renovate or restore Charity Hospital, but it remains closed.
Louisiana is home to several other hospitals, including:
- Ochsner Medical Center: Ranked as the number one hospital in Louisiana, Ochsner Medical Center is located in New Orleans and is nationally ranked in three pediatric specialties.
- Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center: This hospital is located in Baton Rouge and offers a range of medical services.
- Abbeville General Hospital: Abbeville General Hospital serves the Abbeville community and the surrounding areas.
- Acadia-St. Landry Hospital: This hospital is located in the St. Landry area and provides a range of medical services.
- Accord Rehabilitation Hospital: Accord Rehabilitation Hospital specializes in rehabilitation and provides care for patients recovering from injuries or illnesses.
- Acadian Medical Center: Acadian Medical Center serves the Acadiana region and offers a range of medical services.
These hospitals offer a variety of medical services and play a crucial role in providing healthcare to the people of Louisiana.
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Charity Hospital's architecture
Charity Hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, was founded in 1736 by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder. The hospital has changed locations multiple times in its nearly 300-year history.
The first Charity Hospital was located at the intersection of Chartres Street and Bienville Street in what is now the French Quarter. This hospital was likely destroyed by a fire in 1809. A temporary hospital was established at the Cabildo, followed by a six-month stay at the Jourdan residence in the Faubourg Marigny, and then a five-year stay at the De La Vergne plantation while a fourth hospital was built.
In 1832, a fifth hospital was built on Common Street (modern Tulane Avenue) between Howard Street (modern LaSalle Street), Robertson Street, and Gravier Street, on the edge of the Faubourg St. Marie. This hospital came under the administration of the Sisters of Charity in 1834, who ran the hospital for the next century.
In the 1930s, a new Charity Hospital was constructed at 1532 Tulane Avenue, as a Public Works Administration project. This building was designed by Leon Weiss, a contributor to Governor Huey P. Long's campaign, who was later convicted of public corruption. The hospital cost over $12.5 million and was the second-largest hospital in the United States when it opened in 1939. It featured an art deco style, with 20 stories of limestone construction.
Charity Hospital sustained severe flood damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was closed. The evacuation of patients from the flooded hospital made national headlines, with dramatic reports of high floodwaters, helicopter rescues, and dire conditions within the hospital.
There have been efforts to renovate or restore Charity Hospital. The Foundation for Historical Louisiana hired the architectural firm RMJM Hillier to evaluate the structure and determine the feasibility of repairing or restructuring the facility. RMJM Hillier deemed the art deco building structurally sound and proposed rehabilitating it into a 21st-century, state-of-the-art facility. However, this idea was ultimately scrapped in favour of building a new medical centre, the University Medical Center New Orleans, which opened in 2015.
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Charity Hospital's legacy
Charity Hospital, also known as "Big Charity," was founded on May 10, 1736, by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder. It was located at 1532 Tulane Avenue in New Orleans, Louisiana, and was one of the oldest continually operating hospitals in the United States. The hospital was constructed between 1936 and 1940 and was known for its art deco style limestone building, featuring two stone bas-reliefs and a cast aluminum screen by artist Enrique Alferez.
Charity Hospital served as a resource for the low-income population, residents of color, and uninsured individuals in the Lower Mid-City area of New Orleans. It was well-known for its dedication to fostering an inclusive space that encouraged learning and provided accessible healthcare. The hospital was also a teaching hospital, affiliated with the LSU Health Sciences Center in New Orleans, carrying on a long tradition of medical education.
However, Charity Hospital faced challenges over the years, including financial struggles and the impact of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. The hospital sustained severe flood damage during the hurricane, and patients had to be evacuated through challenging conditions. Despite efforts to renovate and restore the hospital, it was closed in the aftermath of the hurricane, and the site was left derelict. The closure of Charity Hospital and the construction of new multi-million-dollar medical facilities amplified segregation and left the Lower Mid-City community without access to affordable medical care.
Today, the legacy of Charity Hospital lives on through the University Medical Center, LCMC Health, the Veterans Affair Hospital, and the LSU Medical Center, which continue to serve the people of New Orleans. The original Charity Hospital building, with its architectural significance, stands as a reminder of the hospital's long history and its impact on the community it served.
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Frequently asked questions
Charity Hospital, also known as "Big Charity," was a hospital in New Orleans, Louisiana, that served the low-income population, residents of colour, and uninsured individuals in the Lower Mid-City area. It was founded in 1736 by a grant from Jean Louis, a French sailor and shipbuilder, and was one of the oldest continually operating hospitals in the United States until its closure in 2005 due to severe flood damage during Hurricane Katrina.
Charity Hospital was located at 1532 Tulane Avenue in central New Orleans, about a mile north of downtown, across from the Interstate 10.
Charity Hospital sustained severe flood damage during Hurricane Katrina in 2005 and was evacuated. The hospital was closed for good, and plans to rebuild at another site were not realized due to the shift towards privatization in healthcare.
Yes, there have been several efforts to renovate or restore Charity Hospital. The Foundation for Historical Louisiana hired architectural firm RMJM Hillier to evaluate the feasibility of repairing or restructuring the facility. While the building was found to be structurally sound, the idea of rehabilitating it was scrapped in favour of building new medical centres, including the University Medical Center and a new Southeast Louisiana Veterans Health Care System Medical Center.
According to one source, the medical records from Charity Hospital were destroyed and are not accessible. However, another source claims that birth and death records are permanently stored at an off-site facility called Iron Mountain, and can be retrieved by contacting them directly.
