Western State Hospital
The Western State Hospital opened as the Western State Lunatic Asylum in 1828. The hospital complex was located in Staunton, Virginia. The campus was often referred to as looking more like a resort destination rather than an asylum. The beautiful buildings were highly decorated and the grounds were perfectly manicured.
Overcrowding began the plague the hospital in the 19th century. Many patients were forcibly sterilized at this facility due to a law passed by the State of Virginia in 1924 that called for the procedure to be done in mental health facilities. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1969. Shortly after this, the state hospital vacated the beautiful buildings in favor of a newly built campus nearby. The original buildings were converted to the Staunton Correctional Center. The medium security prison only lasted until 2003. The entire complex was abandoned until 2005 when the state sold the property to a developer who planned to convert the buildings into housing. Today the property is known as theVillages at Staunton. It is a prime example of incredible adaptive re-use and historic preservation. All buildings are original and even interior elements of the original hospital were preserved to perfection.
Read MoreOvercrowding began the plague the hospital in the 19th century. Many patients were forcibly sterilized at this facility due to a law passed by the State of Virginia in 1924 that called for the procedure to be done in mental health facilities. The complex was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on November 25, 1969. Shortly after this, the state hospital vacated the beautiful buildings in favor of a newly built campus nearby. The original buildings were converted to the Staunton Correctional Center. The medium security prison only lasted until 2003. The entire complex was abandoned until 2005 when the state sold the property to a developer who planned to convert the buildings into housing. Today the property is known as theVillages at Staunton. It is a prime example of incredible adaptive re-use and historic preservation. All buildings are original and even interior elements of the original hospital were preserved to perfection.
