Children's Minnesota history
In 1924, the Children’s Hospital of St. Paul opened its doors, marking the beginning of Children’s Minnesota.
The visionaries who founded that hospital were ahead of their time. They recognized that children had unique health needs — they weren’t just smaller versions of adults — and they needed specialized health care in a place made just for kids.
More than 100 years later, that’s as true as ever. And Children’s Minnesota stands today as the only health system in the state devoted entirely to pediatric care. From highly specialized expertise to compassionate, family-centered support, we partner with families to help their most precious people grow up healthy and happy.
1924: A hospital just for children
Walter Reeve Ramsey, MD, raises money to open Children’s Hospital of St. Paul. The first hospital, on the corner of Smith Avenue and Walnut Street in St. Paul, opens in 1924 and begins operating with 16 beds.
In 1928, the Children’s Hospital moves to a new building on Pleasant Avenue with the promise of free care for needy children. Children’s has 15 physicians on staff and the minimum daily rate for a hospital stay is $2.50.
In 1933, Junior League members incorporate the Children’s Hospital Association (CHA), responding to an appeal from Dr. Ramsey to make hospital care available to poor families during the Depression.
In 1953, a group of Junior League members and physicians incorporates the Children’s Hospital of Minneapolis and begins fundraising. The Children’s – Minneapolis Association emerges from the group of Junior League supporters.
In 1959, the Lang Wing of Children’s – St. Paul is dedicated in honor of Theodora H. Lang, the first female president of the board of trustees. Mrs. Lang served on Children’s board for more than 60 years.
In 1967, Arnold Anderson, MD, is named medical director and chief executive officer of the Minneapolis children’s hospital even before it is built. In 1969, ground is finally broken on Chicago Avenue.
Our Minneapolis hospital opens its doors; our St. Paul hospital gets a new home
In 1973, the “Minneapolis Children’s Health Center” opens as a modern, innovative model of family-centered care.
In 1979, Children’s – St. Paul moves into a new building, on its current site on Smith Avenue.
Our St. Paul and Minneapolis hospitals merge
In 1994, the Minneapolis Children’s Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of St. Paul merge, becoming the largest pediatric health care provider in the Upper Midwest.
During the 1990s, Children’s opens a center for outpatient surgery and pediatric rehabilitation services in Minnetonka known as Children’s – Minnetonka. Children’s – Roseville opens as a clinic for developmental and rehabilitation services. Children’s Clinics – Woodwinds also opens, offering rehabilitation and specialty clinics.
In 2007, Children’s Minnesota embarks on a $300 million renovation and expansion, the largest in its history, to provide all private patient rooms and upgrades to our facilities and clinical areas.
In 2013, Children’s Minnesota becomes the only Level I pediatric trauma center in the state thanks to a $17.5 million gift from UnitedHealthcare. Also in 2013, The Mother Baby Center opens as a new four-story, 96,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art facility that is a joint venture between Children’s Minnesota and Allina Health’s Abbott Northwestern Hospital.
In 2015, Children’s Minnesota opens the Kiran Stordalen and Horst Rechelbacher Pediatric Pain, Palliative and Integrative Medicine Clinic. It’s the first pediatric pain program of its kind in the country. Also in 2015, new locations of The Mother Baby Center open at Mercy Hospital and United Hospital. The centers provide mothers and families access to a network of world-class, family-centered birthing options closer to home.
In 2016, Children’s Minnesota and Allina Health open the Michael and Ann Ciresi Midwest Fetal Care Center, the first and largest advanced fetal care center in the Upper Midwest and one of only a few in the United States, bringing together a comprehensive team of maternal, fetal, neonatal and pediatric experts. The new 6,700-square-foot clinic is located at The Mother Baby Center in Minneapolis, between Children’s Minnesota and Abbott Northwestern hospitals.
In 2018, we are recognized as a Magnet® hospital, the gold standard for excellence in nursing care. Magnet is a status achieved by fewer than 10% of U.S. hospitals.
In 2019, Children’s Minnesota is verified as a Level I Children’s Surgery Center by the American College of Surgeons, becoming the first and only hospital in Minnesota to earn this distinction of meeting national quality and safety standards for children’s surgery.
Today, Children’s Minnesota is one of the largest freestanding children’s health systems in the United States. We are the only health system and Level I Trauma Center in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children from before birth through young adulthood.
We serve children from every county in Minnesota and every state in the Upper Midwest.
From the Archives
