Manhattan · NYC landmark
Former New York Cancer Hospital
455 Central Park West · Manhattan, New York City
A former cancer hospital whose round ward towers preserve a visible record of nineteenth-century ideas about ventilation and patient care.
Save and Boost open this place in the interactive map. An account is needed to save; Boost opens its options before payment.
NYFE Summary
The hospital was created to study and treat cancer at a time when specialized care was still developing. Its round wards reflected a belief that more sunlight, fresh air and fewer corners would improve patient conditions. They also let nurses watch several beds from a central position.
Those wards gave the building its round towers and pointed roofs. Red brick, dark stone and rows of tall windows make the former hospital easy to distinguish from neighboring apartment blocks. The unusual shape records an earlier approach to hospital planning.
NYFE summary from the official history and visitor sources linked below.
Plan a visit
Check the operator’s current opening, admission and access information before travelling. Historic status does not guarantee public access to every interior.
Official visitor information ↗