Quarantine
Preventing Pandemics in Port Cities.
In the 19th and early 20th century, infectious diseases were a major concern for port cities.
Ships arrived from all over the world carrying crew, passengers, and, potentially, infectious diseases.
Top image: Point Hudson, U.S. Quarantine Station (JCHS 2004.117.544)
To control the risk of disease, ships from ports with known outbreaks or with sickness onboard were quarantined offshore. By the 1890’s, the U.S. government began improving maritime inspections and quarantine regulations nationally.
In 1893, a quarantine station was constructed at Diamond Point, between Sequim and Port Townsend. The station allowed ships coming from a port with known outbreak to anchor and run up a signal flag indicating they needed inspection. An inspector went out to the ship to determine if quarantine or disinfection were required. The quarantine station was moved to Point Hudson in the 1930’s and remained in use until World War II.
U.S. Marine Hospital Service Maritime Quarantine Station at Diamond Point, Sequim, ca. (JCHS 1905 2004.117.17 (2.119)
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