On May 27, 1896, a severe tornado tounched down in the core of the city of St. Louis, decimating parts of the near southside. The City Hospital sustained major damage, and three of the nearly 450 patients died when parts of the roofs at City Hospital collapsed. The remaining patients were quickly moved to an emergency hospital (see City Hospital, 1896 - 1905 for images.) After letting the ruins stand for years due to lack of a plan for replacing them, the city wrecked the buildings in 1899. Construction of another permanent hospital did not begin until 1903.

(All images from the collection of the St. Louis Building Arts Foundation.)