Holy Rosary Hospital

Miles City's history dates back to 1876 when Fort Keogh was established. Settlers, cattle ranchers, merchants and others arrived, attracted by the security the fort provided against Indian attacks. The town grew rapidly after the Northern Pacific Railroad arrived in 1881. Although the population decreased in the late 1880s as a result of the bad winter of 1886-1887, which decimated cattle stock, the town persevered. In 1908, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad (commonly known as the Milwaukee Road) built a line to the city and also repaired steam locomotives here. Both railroads, the Milwaukee and Great Northern, spurred the city's growth during these years. Then in 1909, Congress passed the Homestead Act, which drew even more settlers to the region.

In order to meet the health needs of the growing population, the county decided to build the new hospital. As alluded to above, in 1907, the county converted a house into a hospital but it quickly proved to be too small. So two years later, the county bought the land on which the building now stands and hired Link & Haire to design it. The county also asked the Sisters of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who were located in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to run the hospital. The hospital opened on October 7, 1910 with 35-beds. It also established a nursing certificate program within a year.

During the 1918 -1919 influenza pandemic, support for the hospital grew. Donations increased as did the number of nursing students. These factors prompted the Sisters to build an addition in 1922, which raised the number of beds to 85. The addition also included a nurses dormitory, chapel, and a laundry room. The Sisters built a modern high-rise in 1948 directly east of the hospital buildings.

Beginning in the 1960s, the functions of the hospital changed. The 1910 building and the 1922 addition became a rest home. The 1922 addition was briefly used as a drug and rehabilitation center for 18 months beginning in 1979. Finally, in 1995 the entire complex was abandoned when the hospital moved to a new facility. Miles City residents rallied to save the old hospital from demolition in the 2000s. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2009. The 1948 high-rise no longer exists; all that remains are the original 1910 hospital and the 1922 addition.

Allison, Amorette. "Holy Rosary Hospital." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. January 15, 2009. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/d11defe7-6dfd-49f3-ba2a-2e8be26853ba.

The Montana National Register Sign Program. “Holy Rosary Hospital.” Montana Historical Society - Digital Vault. Accessed August 5, 2020, http://digitalvault.mhs.mt.gov/items/show/20510.