Building 400s (S-400, S-401, T-402, T-406, T-407)

Five stucco two-story rectangular buildings S-400, S-401, T-402, T-406, and T-407 constitute the 400s buildings that face the open parade grounds across from Colonels Row. Throughout Fitzsimons Army Medical Center’s history, the roles of the five buildings have changed over time once housing nurses, the receiving headquarters for Tuberculosis patients, the Service Club, Scouting Activities, and currently the University Police for the Anschutz Medical Campus. The practicality and diverse purpose the buildings served contributed to the self-sufficiency of Fitzsimons. The 400s buildings have transitioned with the Anschutz Medical Campus and remain across from the parade grounds.

Nurses Quarters 

Elizabeth D. Reed served as U.S. Army General Hospital No. 21’s first head nurse and pioneered Army nursing for future Fitzsimons nurses particularly for treatments and care of Tuberculosis. Graduating from recognized schools of nursing, Army nurses routinely received specialized course training to maintain medical skill and knowledge at Fitzsimons. Army nurses took part in anesthesiology training and in July of 1947 and January of 1963 five Army nurse corps first lieutenants took an “8-week Recovery Room and Intensive Surgical Nursing Course."¹ However, even with the copious amounts of training and preparedness of Army nurses, Fitzsimons experienced a nurse shortage in 1945 that led to requests for Women’s Army Corps (WACs) to serve at Fitzsimons General Hospital. WACs gained full military status in 1943 as the Army Medical Department requested over 50000 WACs to fill positions of care and treatment in facilities around the world.  

Scouting Activities and Service Club 

The Scouting Activities building hosted Cub, Brownie, Boy, Girl and Explorer Scouts meetings for current and retired military personnel at Fitzsimons. The troops had weekly meetings on Tuesday nights for Boy Scouts and Tuesday afternoons for Brownies and Girl Scouts. The Service Club Building on the other hand boasted a complete recreation program for basketball, boxing, gymnastics, and badminton at the post gymnasium. In addition to the recreation program, the Service Club held dances and themed parties for military personnel.  

1. “Five Nurses Begin Course.” The Stethoscope. January 18, 1963, Vol. 20 No.3. 
2. Stewart, John S. Fitzsimons General Hospital: The Story of a Great Institution, 1918-1938. Post No. 1 Veterans of Foreign Wars of the United States. 1938. 
3. Colorado Welcomes You to Fitzsimons General Hospital Guide. 1961.  
4. Payne, Emily Thompson. “Fitzsimons General Hospital, Neuropsychiatric Ward.” Historic American Buildings Survey. August 2009.