Drive down any street in America and you’re likely to see the iconic Adirondack Chairs. Believe it or not, these chairs actually exist because of Tuberculosis. In the late 19th century, tuberculosis was responsible for 1 in 7 deaths worldwide and in 1900, it killed nearly 10,000 people in New York City alone. This caused many New Yorkers to flee upstate to rural sanatoriums. Doctors there believed in the restorative benefits of cold air baths and prescribed that patients be propped up in chairs outside to absorb the cold air. This led to an entire industry of “cure chairs”, originally named Westport chairs after the inventor from Westport, New York. But they ultimately took on the name Adirondack due to the popularity of the regional sanatoriums. By the 1950s, antibiotic treatments had improved so much that sanatoriums were no longer necessary and most closed their doors. Yet, Adirondack chairs remain popular due to their comfort and iconic style.