Bulfinch and the Massachusetts General Hospital: History at the Intersection of Architecture and Medicine

Abstract

Albeit never trained in architectural design, Charles Bulfinch (1763-1844) is widely recollected as the first native-born American to practice architecture professionally. Inspired by continental influences, Bulfinch developed the neoclassicist style reflected in major private and public structures in Boston and Washington D.C. Although we have numerous studies of Bulfinch’s fascinating and pioneering architectural career, less is known about his intimate relationship to the medical field. Bulfinch was the chief designer of Massachusetts General Hospital, America’s third-oldest general hospital and Harvard Medical School’s first teaching hospital. Drawing on a wide range of underexplored primary and secondary sources, this article offers a historical recounting of Bulfinch’s life and architectural trajectory up to the conception and design of Massachusetts General Hospital. Then, it draws attention to the structure and organization of the Hospital, its position within the historical context of the time, and its lasting impact on the history of American medicine. In so doing, this article provides a fresh perspective into Boston’s healthcare architecture, the history of its preeminent hospital, and the legendary personality that made it what it is today