The Fire at Cleveland Clinic: Overcoming Catastrophe September 17, 2008

The Cleveland Clinic was established in 1921 by four physicians for the purpose of providing patient care, research, and medical education in an ideal medical setting. On May 15, 1929, the main building of the Cleveland Clinic caught fire when an exposed light bulb ignited nitro-cellulose x-ray film. In the end, 123 patients, visitors, and employees lost their lives, and one of its founders, Dr. John Phillips, was among the dead.

Although investigators found that the Clinic was not to blame, but the fire influenced major changes. The city of Cleveland issued gas masks to fire departments and created an ambulance service, and nationally, medical facilities established new standards for storing hazardous materials.

Following the fire, the Cleveland Clinic regained momentum and is currently the second-largest medical group practice in the world. Today, patients arrive from all 50 states and more than 100 nations, and the Clinic is ranked among the four leading hospitals in America and number one in cardiac care. The main campus consists of 41 buildings on more than 140 acres. This walking tour will feature a behind-the-scenes look at the main buildings and the new construction of the heart center.

“Cleveland the Infamous: Stories of Triumph Over Tragedy” is a series of guided tours examining four defining moments in the history of Cleveland that demonstrate the core values of the people in this region and bring new insight to the stories behind the stereotypes. Other tours are: The Burning Cuyahoga River: From “Mistake on the Lake” to the “Green City on a Blue Lake” (7/12); The Cleveland Torso Murders Mystery: From Unsolved Crimes to Innovation in CSI (8/12); and The Hough Riots and the Election of Carl Stokes: From Pandemonium to Progress (10/4). Tickets are $20

Official Website: http://www.cityclub.org