Press | Friends of the Ruin

A small selection of stories, films, and other appearances that offer different views of the Smallpox Hospital and its history.

A narrative history of the ruin and its place in the New York landscape.

Aaron Asis discusses the building and its potential as restored public space.

A look at why the Smallpox Hospital is a fixture of the New York City skyline.

A short film about the history of the building and Roosevelt Island.

The team goes inside the building with a panel of experts, in an episode shared with the ruins of Troy.

Gates visits the Smallpox Hospital before visiting the FDR Hope Memorial with two polio survivors.

Building recognition

The Smallpox Hospital has been recognized for its architectural and historic significance for decades.

1972 · National Register of Historic Places Added to the National Register on March 16, 1972

1976 · New York City Landmark Designated by the Landmarks Preservation Commission on March 23, 1976

1980 · New York State Register of Historic Places Listed on the State Register on June 23, 1980

Listed among the state’s seven most threatened historic places.

Named one of ten “Irreplaceable America” sites, recognizing the ruin as an essential part of the American story.