About Saint Joseph Hospital

At Saint Joseph Hospital, we’re happy to tell you about us: our compassionate caregivers, our clinical excellence, our award-winning care and even our beautiful campus

Saint JSaint Joseph Hospital was founded in Denver in 1873 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth as the first private teaching hospital in Colorado. Today, it remains the largest private teaching hospital in Denver. The hospital provides a tradition of healthcare that includes compassionate caregivers, stellar clinical expertise and active clinical partnerships with Kaiser Permanente, National Jewish Health and community physicians.oseph Hospital was founded in Denver in 1873 by the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth as the first private teaching hospital in Colorado. Today, it remains the largest private teaching hospital in Denver. The hospital provides a tradition of healthcare that includes compassionate caregivers, stellar clinical expertise and active clinical partnerships with Kaiser Permanente, National Jewish Health and community physicians.

About us

In 1873, Mother Xavier Ross of the Sisters of Charity of Leavenworth, Kansas, sent four Sisters to establish a hospital with only nine dollars and the challenge that the Sisters "look forward for what good there is yet to be." The Sisters opened their hospital in a cottage at the intersection of 14th Avenue and Arapahoe Street, but soon moved to a brick building at 26th Avenue and Holladay Street (later renamed Market Street). Since this was a short distance from Denver's red light district, many Denver residents mentioned that it was a questionable neighborhood for a hospital. "We'll take the question out of the neighborhood," replied one of the Sisters.

During the early years, the hospital was known as Saint Vincent's. This was changed to Saint Joseph in 1876 when the Sisters began construction at 18th Avenue and Humboldt Street on land donated to them by territorial Governor William Gilpin. This site was directly adjacent to the hospital's present location. Construction of the administration building began in 1899. Led by flour baron John K. Mullen, the people of Denver raised $10,000 for this building with a "gigantic city-wide bazaar," and a "monster" euchre (whist) party, planned by none other than Mrs. J. J. "The Unsinkable Molly" Brown.

In 1961, ground was broken for the hospital's iconic twin towers structure. In 2014, Saint Joseph Hospital completed its new, state-of-the-art facility located at 1375 E. 19th Avenue and Downing Street in Denver. Featuring some of the most advanced treatment technologies, environmentally-friendly design and person-centered accommodations for patients and visitors, the new Saint Joseph Hospital continues the 140-year tradition of high-quality, affordable healthcare in Denver.

If you'd like more information about Saint Joseph Hospital, visit the Saint Joseph Hospital Archives page.