Dr. Dio Lewis's School for Young Ladies

Dr. Dio Lewis's School for Young Ladies was an American boarding school for young women. Founded in 1864 by Dr. Diocletian Lewis, it was located at the Lexington House, at Lexington, Massachusetts. The building was burned down on September 7, 1867. This was the first institution for young ladies in the United States in which a determined and successful attempt was made to combine a thorough scientific physical training with a broad and complete intellectual and moral culture. His object was to illustrate the possibilities in the physical development of girls during their school life.

Having engaged Theodore Dwight Weld, for many years Principal of the Eagleswood School, in New Jersey, and other experienced teachers, he opened his school with 20 pupils. A large corps of the best teachers in mathematics, sciences, languages, belle lettres, and music, to be found in the country, were engaged, and the opening announced. The school soon grew to 150 young women, gathered from all parts of the country, the Pacific Coast, Central America, and the West Indies. Girls who came unable to ascend a single flight of stairs without suffering, in a few months, were able to walk 5–10 miles (8.0–16.1 km) without inconvenience.

On September 7, 1867, when the house had been refitted the building took fire and was entirely consumed. The citizens of Lexington and the friends of physical education regarded it as a great calamity.