Here is a timeline of key events related to Columbus Hospital:
- 1885: Columbus Hospital is founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
- 1930s: The hospital expands to include a nursing school and a medical research facility.
- 1960s: Columbus Hospital becomes affiliated with Northwestern University Medical School.
- 1970s: The hospital merges with St. Joseph Hospital and becomes known as Columbus-St. Joseph Hospital.
- 1980s: Columbus-St. Joseph Hospital becomes part of the Rush Presbyterian St. Luke's Medical Center system.
- 2000: The hospital undergoes a major renovation and expansion.
- 2009: Rush University Medical Center announces plans to close Columbus Hospital.
- 2011: Columbus Hospital closes its doors after 126 years of operation.
The closing of Columbus Hospital was met with protests from community members and hospital staff. Rush University Medical Center cited financial difficulties and declining patient volumes as reasons for the closure. The hospital's closure left a significant gap in healthcare services on Chicago's West Side.
After the hospital's closure, the building was sold to a private developer. In 2014, the building reopened as the Columbus Park Apartments, a mixed-use development that includes residential units, retail space, and a community center.
