St. Louis residents in need of medical care now can turn to a number of local hospitals. Decades ago, that choice may have been more influenced by religion and the ability to pay. St. Louis City used to run hospitals for the “indigent,” such as City Hospital on Lafayette (now condominiums). Religious groups, including Catholic nuns, ran other hospitals. A fraternal organization, the Shriners, still support a hospital specializing in pediatric care. 

Here are photos from the Post-Dispatch archive of some of the hospitals that served (and still serve) the St. Louis area.

— Compiled by Beth O’Malley, [email protected]