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El Paso's Rise as a Tuberculosis Sanctuary
How the city's warm climate drew TB patients seeking treatment in the early 1900s
Apr. 4, 2026 at 8:03pm
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In the early 1900s, El Paso became a haven for tuberculosis patients seeking the healing power of its warm sunshine, leading to the rise of several sanatoriums around the city. Tuberculosis, a serious and life-threatening lung disease, was a major public health crisis at the time, and El Paso's hot, dry climate was seen as an effective treatment, drawing patients from across the country and around the world.
Why it matters
El Paso's emergence as a tuberculosis sanctuary highlights the city's unique role in the history of public health and medical treatment. The influx of TB patients transformed the local economy and landscape, leading to the construction of specialized sanatoriums that have since become part of the city's haunted lore.
The details
Doctors in the early 1900s believed that the warm, dry climate of El Paso could help treat tuberculosis, which was a major public health crisis at the time. As a result, the city saw an influx of TB patients seeking treatment, leading to the construction of several sanatoriums to accommodate them. These included Hotel Dieu, Southwestern General Hospital, the Hendricks-Laws Sanitorium, and the Southern Baptist Sanitorium, which was built on the former site of the Mt. Franklin Country Club.
- In the early 1900s, El Paso became a hub for tuberculosis patients seeking treatment.
- Doctors at the time believed the city's warm, dry climate could help treat the disease.
- Many of the former sanatoriums, such as Southwestern General Hospital, are now considered haunted sites.
The players
Tuberculosis
A serious, life-threatening lung disease that was a major public health crisis in the early 1900s, spread through sneezing, coughing, and even singing.
El Paso
A city in Texas that became a haven for tuberculosis patients in the early 1900s due to its warm, dry climate, which was believed to be an effective treatment for the disease.
Hotel Dieu
One of the sanatoriums built in El Paso to accommodate the influx of tuberculosis patients seeking treatment in the city.
Southwestern General Hospital
Another sanatorium built in El Paso to treat tuberculosis patients, which is now considered a haunted site.
Hendricks-Laws Sanitorium
A sanatorium in El Paso that has since been converted into a seminary.
The takeaway
El Paso's transformation into a tuberculosis sanctuary in the early 1900s highlights the city's unique role in the history of public health and medical treatment. The influx of TB patients led to the construction of specialized sanatoriums that have since become part of the city's haunted lore, underscoring the lasting impact of this public health crisis on the local community.
