On Mar. 12, 1912, Seattle voters passed a $125,000 bond issue (82 percent in support) to construct a permanent tuberculosis sanatorium to combat the city’s leading cause of death. In 1911, the Anti-Tuberculosis League of King County opened the Henry Sanatorium (19303 Fremont Ave. N) as Seattle’s municipal tuberculosis hospital, later renamed Firland.

In September 1947, the City of Seattle Health Department and the King County Health Department merged, turning the care of tuberculosis patients over entirely to the county. Today, Seattle & King County no longer provides TB testing for work or school purposes, and this service can be obtained by your private medical provider, community health center or occupational health clinic.