Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center
| Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center | |
|---|---|
| Massachusetts Department of Mental Retardation | |
| Geography | |
| Location | Waltham, Massachusetts, United States |
| Coordinates | 42°23′28″N 71°12′38″W / 42.39111°N 71.21056°W |
| Organization | |
| Funding | Government hospital |
| Services | |
| Emergency department | No |
| History | |
| Former name(s) | Walter E. Fernald State School |
| Opened | 1848 |
| Closed | 2014 |
| Links | |
| Lists | Hospitals in Massachusetts |
Walter E. Fernald State School, Waltham, MA. | |
| Location | 200 Trapelo Rd., Waltham, Massachusetts |
| Built | 1888 |
| Architect | William G. Preston; Clarence P. Hoyt |
| Architectural style | Greek Revival, Queen Anne, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals |
| MPS | Massachusetts State Hospitals And State Schools MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 93001487 |
| Added to NRHP | January 21, 1994 |
The Walter E. Fernald State School, later the Walter E. Fernald Developmental Center, was the Western hemisphere's oldest publicly funded institution serving people with developmental disabilities. Under its third superintendent, Walter Fernald, it became a model for state institutions for the developmentally disabled. It later was the scene of medical experiments in the 20th century. Investigations into this research led to new regulations regarding human research in children.
The school occupies a 186 acres (75 ha) property off Trapelo Road in Waltham, Massachusetts.