Floating Hospital For Children

DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY -- NAVAL HISTORICAL CENTER
805 KIDDER BREESE SE -- WASHINGTON NAVY YARD
WASHINGTON DC 20374-5060

Online Library of Selected Images:
-- U.S. NAVY SHIPS --

USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366), 1918-1918.
Formerly, and later, S.S. Boston Floating Hospital

S.S. Boston Floating Hospital, a 672 gross ton (1200 tons displacement) excursion steamer, was built at East Boston, Massachusetts in 1906 to provide Boston's disadvantaged children with healthful harbor cruises and other medical services. She was operated by a philanthropic organization of the same name that had been founded in 1894, inspired by a similar New York City institution. In early January 1918 she was taken over by the U.S. Navy and placed in commission as USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366), but was returned to her owner in June of that year. The ship then returned to her original purpose, which lasted until 1927, when fire damage caused her retirement. However, her hull apparently survived and in 1933 she was converted to a 675 gross ton diesel-powered tanker, named Marshall B. Hall. The ship was disposed of in 1952. Though no longer a shipborne facility, Boston Floating Hospital conceptually lives on as the land-based Floating Hospital for Children, the pediatric component of the Tufts New England Medical Center.

This page features all the views we have concerning USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366) and the civilian steamship Boston Floating Hospital.

Click on the small photograph to prompt a larger view of the same image.

Photo #: NH 104969-KN (Color) S.S. Boston Floating Hospital Artwork of the ship underway, on a postcard published in 1908 by the Boston Floating Hospital, Incorporated, 54 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts. See Photo # NH 104969-A-KN for a view of the reverse of this postcard, which was mailed on 18 August 1908. This ship served as USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366) for several months in 1918. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 139KB; 740 x 495 pixels
Photo #: NH 104969-A-KN (Color) S.S. Boston Floating Hospital Reverse of a postcard published in 1908 by the Boston Floating Hospital, Incorporated, 54 Devonshire Street, Boston, Massachusetts. The card was mailed at Boston on 18 August 1908 addressed to Cecil Moore of Lowellville, Ohio. See Photo # NH 104969-KN for a view of the front of this postcard, which was mailed on 18 August 1908. Note printed and hand-written messages concerning this charitable children's floating medical facility. This ship served as USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366) for several months in 1918. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 148KB; 740 x 495 pixels
Photo #: NH 104970-KN (Color) S.S. Boston Floating Hospital Color tinted photograph of the ship tied up at Boston, with weather screens erected around many of her deck openings, published on a postcard by The Leighton & Valentine Co., New York City, during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century. See Photo # NH 104970-A-KN for a view of the reverse of this postcard. This ship served as USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366) for several months in 1918. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 89KB; 740 x 495 pixels
Photo #: NH 104970-A-KN (Color) S.S. Boston Floating Hospital Reverse of a postcard published by The Leighton & Valentine Co., New York City, during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century. See Photo # NH 104970-KN for a view of the front of this postcard. This ship served as USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366) for several months in 1918. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 58KB; 740 x 495 pixels
Photo #: NH 105252-KN (Color) S.S. Boston Floating Hospital Color tinted photograph of the ship alongside a pier, published on a postcard by Robbins Brothers, of Boston, Massachusetts, during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century. See Photo # NH 105252-A-KN for a view of the reverse of this postcard. This ship served as USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366) for several months in 1918. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 105KB; 740 x 510 pixels
Photo #: NH 105252-A-KN (Color) S.S. Boston Floating Hospital Reverse of a postcard published by Robbins Brothers, of Boston, Massachusetts, during the first two decades of the Twentieth Century. See Photo # NH 105252-KN for a view of the front of this postcard. This ship served as USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366) for several months in 1918. Donation of Captain Stephen S. Roberts, USNR (Retired), 2007. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 86KB; 740 x 530 pixels
Photo #: NH 95893 USS Boston Floating Hospital (ID # 2366) In port, probably at Boston, Massachusetts, circa early 1918. Two submarine chasers (SC) are in the icy water alongside her. Masts in the left center background are probably those of USS Constitution. Formerly a coastal passenger steamer built in 1906, this ship became a floating hospital hulk at Boston prior to being commissioned by the Navy on 7 January 1918. She was returned to her owner on 2 June 1918. The original photograph is in Record Group 19-LCM in the National Archives. U.S. Naval Historical Center Photograph. Online Image: 53KB; 740 x 380 pixels

http://www.history.navy.mil/photos/sh-usn/usnsh-b/id2366.htm