The Renwick Ruins

The mysterious castle-like structure at the south end of Roosevelt Island is the famous Renwick Ruin, named for celebrated nineteenth century architect, James Renwick, Jr. (Mr. Renwick is principally known for his design of St. Patrick's Cathedral on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan). Initially completed in 1856, the structure was first conceived as a smallpox hospital. In 1875 it was converted to City Hospital and a nursing school residence. This facility, abandoned nearly fifty years ago, is now floodlit at night.

At the time of its construction, smallpox was an epidemic responsible for one in every hundred deaths in New York City. Because of the highly contagious nature of the disease, the island setting was considered ideal. When the city transferred patients with contagious diseases to North Brother Island in the last quarter of the 19th century, the Smallpox Hospital became a nurses residence. It was abandoned in the 1950's. Today it is New York City's only landmarked ruin.