In late December 2023, Tufts Medical Center staff gathered to celebrate the opening of a history exhibit which celebrates Tufts Medical Center’s two-century legacy of caring for our community beginning with the Boston Dispensary. Located on the Floating Plaza and open to the public, this immersive display showcases memorabilia and artifacts, including the 1796 charter signed by Samuel Adams, for whom our Governor’s Society was named and other community leaders whose vision formed the Boston Dispensary. The Boston Dispensary was New England’s first medical facility and one of the first permanent medical facilities in the United States. Both Samuel Adams and Paul Revere were among the first philanthropic donors who supported the Boston Dispensary and its mission to care for Boston's most impoverished people. Along with the collection of artifacts in the exhibit and an interactive presentation of historical photos, you can find an extremely detailed and accurate model of the Boston Floating Hospital for Children boat which took sick children and infants on to Boston Harbor to breathe fresh air and be seen by doctors. We are delighted to have this exhibit to share with patients and staff alike as a reminder of our origins and invite you to visit at your next trip to the Medical Center.
