The Rise and Fall of Columbus Hospital, Chicago (1885–2011)

A 126‑Year Legacy on the West Side

Columbus Hospital, founded by the Sisters of Charity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, opened in 1885 in Chicago's Near West Side. It served generations as a Catholic teaching hospital.

Key Milestones

• 1885: Founded.
• 1930s: Added nursing school & research facility.
• 1960s: Affiliated with Northwestern University Medical School.
• 1970s: Merged with St. Joseph Hospital → Columbus‑St. Joseph Hospital.
• 1980s: Joined Rush‑Presbyterian‑St. Luke's system.
• 2000: Major renovation/expansion.
• 2009: Rush University Medical Center announces closure.
• 2011: Closed after 126 years.

Why It Closed

Rush cited financial losses, declining inpatient volumes, and redundant capacity in the system. Community protests highlighted the loss of a safety‑net provider for a largely underserved area.

Afterlife

The building was sold and reopened in 2014 as Columbus Park Apartments—a mixed‑use development with residential units, retail, and a community center.

The hospital's closure reflects broader trends: consolidation, outpatient shift, and the vulnerability of safety‑net institutions.