Belgum Sanitarium

Belgum Sanitarium

Location	Wildcat Canyon Regional Park, Richmond
State	California
Country	US

The Belgum Sanitarium, also known as the Grande Vista Sanitarium, was a luxurious health resort established by Hendrick Nelsen Belgum in 1914. Located at 7010 Park Avenue in the East Richmond foothills of Northern California, it was designed to treat "nervous disorders". The sanitarium was situated on a 28-acre estate that originally belonged to the Mintzer family. It featured various amenities such as a dairy, poultry plan, apiary, fruit orchard, vegetable gardens, conservatories, and a private spring water system.

The sanitarium gained recognition for its scenic beauty and was considered one of the most impressive residences in the county. However, tragedy struck in 1948 when Belgum died of a heart attack while defending the property against a brush fire. Despite his passing, Belgum's family continued to operate the facility until the mid-1960s.

Unfortunately, the building was abandoned in 1963 and later destroyed by arson in 1965. Today, the site of the Belgum Sanitarium is part of the Wildcat Canyon Regional Park. Hikers can explore the area by following the Belgum trail, where remnants of the foundation, stone walls, and a few fruit and palm trees can still be found.

In 2013, the Richmond Museum of History donated a collection of Belgum's correspondence and documents to the UCSF Library. This collection provides valuable insights into the history of the sanitarium and its operations.