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A tents situation in old Boston

Tents in old Boston

The folks at the Boston City Archives wonder if you can place this photo - and figure out what the tents are for. See it larger.

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Comments

Late 1800s. Spanish American war era returning soldiers.

Guys if you want to make it challenging, don't let the picture be the first thing I find when I go looking for it.

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The giveaway are those masts in the background.

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I immediately thought, "oh, I know that building!" It's still on the BUSM campus right near BMC, and it looks so out of place given that the rest of the structures there are far more utilitarian.

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Outdoor hospital? I know they had some in Brookline. Looks like medical staff in the front row.

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Whoa, what about those tropical plants in the front yard?

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Maybe they brought them back from Spain?

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And then they bring them back inside somewhere, I guess/hope.

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Very typical Victorian-era plantings which always look bizarrely tropical and often plain hideous. The Public Garden was full of palms and ferny things though yes, I'm pretty sure they disappeared into a greenhouse come fall.

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Too clean for Occupy.

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Thanks for playing, folks! This is indeed Boston City Hospital. The photo was taken in 1898 during or immediately after the Spanish American War. These "Tent Ward" were erected to care for injured or ill troops returning from the war.

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Boston Common National Guard Troops Boston Police Strike

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