Government Psychiatric Hospital
This hospital rises above state-run facilities as it was the first psychiatric hospital in the United States to be federally funded. United States Congress funded the construction for the hospital in 1852 and construction began a year later. The main building would follow the Kirkbride plan, but the campus itself would end up being enormous. The hospital opened its doors to patients in January of 1855. The US Navy used one building on campus as a general hospital during the Civil War. The US Army used a wing of the Kirkbride as their general hospital during the same time period.
In the late 19th century, animals that needed temporary housing before the National Zoo was constructed were held at the hospital. In the 1940's, the hospital was housing an average of 8,000 patients and employed around 4,000 people. The hospital saw many strides and firsts in the treatment of mental disabilities. In 1963, Dr. Luther D Robinson founded a program for treating mentally ill patients who were deaf and became an authority on this specific practice. Walter Freeman was inspired by this facility to create the practice of the transorbital lobotomy. The Government also experimented with "truth serums" on patients staying at the facility.
There were a few notable patients held at the Government Psychiatric Center. Most of them being the people who attempted to assassinate presidents through the years. Richard Lawrence who attempted to kill Andrew Jackson, John Hinckey Jr who shot Ronald Reagan and Charles J Guiteau who killed James Garfield all stayed at the hospital. The hospital was deemed to have treated over 125,000 patients. 15,000 autopsies were performed here through 1982 with a collection of over 1,400 brains preserved in formaldehyde. As the hospital was struck by deinstitutionalization, the West and East campus of the hospital began to be redeveloped as many buildings fell abandoned. The West Campus is now home to various United States Government agencies including Homeland Security and US Coast Guard. The East Campus is mostly abandoned but work has started to transform the property into a mixed-use development.
Read MoreIn the late 19th century, animals that needed temporary housing before the National Zoo was constructed were held at the hospital. In the 1940's, the hospital was housing an average of 8,000 patients and employed around 4,000 people. The hospital saw many strides and firsts in the treatment of mental disabilities. In 1963, Dr. Luther D Robinson founded a program for treating mentally ill patients who were deaf and became an authority on this specific practice. Walter Freeman was inspired by this facility to create the practice of the transorbital lobotomy. The Government also experimented with "truth serums" on patients staying at the facility.
There were a few notable patients held at the Government Psychiatric Center. Most of them being the people who attempted to assassinate presidents through the years. Richard Lawrence who attempted to kill Andrew Jackson, John Hinckey Jr who shot Ronald Reagan and Charles J Guiteau who killed James Garfield all stayed at the hospital. The hospital was deemed to have treated over 125,000 patients. 15,000 autopsies were performed here through 1982 with a collection of over 1,400 brains preserved in formaldehyde. As the hospital was struck by deinstitutionalization, the West and East campus of the hospital began to be redeveloped as many buildings fell abandoned. The West Campus is now home to various United States Government agencies including Homeland Security and US Coast Guard. The East Campus is mostly abandoned but work has started to transform the property into a mixed-use development.
