The Firland Foundation can trace its beginnings to the Firland Sanitarium, which first opened in 1911. Started by the Anti-Tuberculosis League of King County (which later became the National Lung Association) for the care of tuberculosis patients, Firland Sanitarium was then turned over to the City of Seattle in 1912. This administration continued until 1945 when the State Legislature combined City of Seattle and King County tuberculosis institutions into one administration, governed by a board of managers from various state and local offices.
In 1947, the Seattle/King County Health Department acquired the Surplus Naval Hospital in north Seattle, which is the current property location of the Workshop. During this period of time, the peak patient load in the hospital was as high as 1,230. In addition to caring for the TB patients, an agreement was made with the University of Washington Medical School to provide resident training opportunities at the hospital, and over 400 resident doctors were trained at the facility as well.
Firland Sanitorium
Because of the necessity for lengthy hospital stays, patients needed ways to cope with boredom and confinement. New drug therapies continually decreased the time of hospitalization, but even in the early 1950's, a two-year stay was not uncommon. As a means to develop patient activity, an exchange store run by patients, for patient use, was started by the Seattle Lions Club. Later, the store expanded its activities and it became a workshop. Patients made items for sale, and earned an income while hospitalized. Over time, the workshop evolved into the current Firland facility which is primarily a machine shop, and the Foundation and governing Board of Directors were established to provide ongoing policy direction.
TB Diagnosis
By the late 1960's, the patient census was at an all-time low, due to the success of new treatments for tuberculosis. Although the hospital was finally closed in 1973 for lack of patients, the Foundation Board has continued to operate the workshop, providing machined parts and assembly labor.
Firland is a 501(c)(4) non-profit organization.