Tuberculosis was a considerable public health concern throughout the first half of the 20th century. In the Jim Crow-era South, tuberculosis ranked the highest among African-Americans living in poverty. As the Progressive Era called for an increasing level of government responsibility for public health, sanatoriums became the favored prescription for disease control and tuberculosis treatment. By the 1920s, tuberculosis was even the leading killer of young adults.
In 1936, with thousands of reported cases, construction began on a larger sanatorium. The new hospital opened in 1938 with 268 beds.At the time, there was no cure for tuberculosis. Being diagnosed with the disease was essentially a death sentence. The sanatorium was vastly overcrowded to the point patient beds lined the hallways.Due to a long waiting list, patient treatment was limited to 18 months. However, the most severe patients spent years in quarantine.
A cure was not developed until the 1950s. Tuberculosis became so widespread that almost every person in South Carolina had a family member afflicted with the disease.This wood-framed Administration Building is one of the oldest buildings in the complex. In the early years, the sanatorium operated as a self-sustaining farm with 200 acres.The first black patients were admitted with the opening of Palmetto Hall, later known as the Palmetto Division. The sanatorium remained a racially segregated institution throughout its history as a state-operated facility.
After years of a steady decline in patients, the sanatorium closed in the 1980s.
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Columbia, SC – it sits on a large swath of city/state land between Parklane and Farrow Rds. I ironically go running through this area as it is right next to where I live. Didn’t even notice the place the first few times I ran by. A bit dilapidated at this point and it seems that squatters have taken up to living in the space.
These are great and the history is very interesting. I’m an amateur photographer and I love taking photographs of this kind of stuff. I have a page on Facebook called the Vanishing Lowcountry. I was just curious how you would go about getting permission to get inside for a place like this to take pictures. Thanks for sharing your photos and I look forward to seeing more.
Thanks for telling some of the history of this place. I live 4 miles from it and have a friend that works for dhec next door. I have wanted and tried to get a chance to visit it but can’t. If you have a way I could I would love to talk to you. My email is phillipfouche12@gmail.com. thanks again. Keep it up
I was wondering where this is located as well as I was told the middle school I attended was once a TB sanatorium. This one looks similar as much as I can recall.
my paternal grandmother died in that hospital when I was in grade school. we visited her there in the late 1940’s. my paternal grandfather died of tuberculosis the year the hospital opened, which was also the year I was born.
Is anybody know how to get ahold of these people I’ve been in the back building but I would have go in the main building but I want to do it legally how do I get ahold of them
Abandoned Southeast 
Where is this facility located??
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Columbia, SC – it sits on a large swath of city/state land between Parklane and Farrow Rds. I ironically go running through this area as it is right next to where I live. Didn’t even notice the place the first few times I ran by. A bit dilapidated at this point and it seems that squatters have taken up to living in the space.
LikeLike
These are great and the history is very interesting. I’m an amateur photographer and I love taking photographs of this kind of stuff. I have a page on Facebook called the Vanishing Lowcountry. I was just curious how you would go about getting permission to get inside for a place like this to take pictures. Thanks for sharing your photos and I look forward to seeing more.
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Thanks for telling some of the history of this place. I live 4 miles from it and have a friend that works for dhec next door. I have wanted and tried to get a chance to visit it but can’t. If you have a way I could I would love to talk to you. My email is phillipfouche12@gmail.com. thanks again. Keep it up
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I was wondering where this is located as well as I was told the middle school I attended was once a TB sanatorium. This one looks similar as much as I can recall.
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I google searched, and this is in South Carolina. Not sure what city.
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Lexington
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is this place up for auction ??
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Oooo I always see places like this on ghost hunting shows. Did you get any kind of scary vibe being in there? Hear any weird noises?
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my paternal grandmother died in that hospital when I was in grade school. we visited her there in the late 1940’s. my paternal grandfather died of tuberculosis the year the hospital opened, which was also the year I was born.
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My Grandfather born in 1900 called the “Fresh Air Camps”.
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Thank you for sharing.
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Is anybody know how to get ahold of these people I’ve been in the back building but I would have go in the main building but I want to do it legally how do I get ahold of them
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