Northern State Hospital was once the largest facility for mentally ill people in Washington. From 1912 until 1976, when the state legislature cut off its funding, thousands and thousands of people came here for treatment. Some never left.
All that remains of Northern State today, aside from some seriously disturbing stories, are a few active buildings currently being used for job corps projects and drug rehabilitation (that are off limits to the public) and the 726-acre portion of the property that is now the Northern State Recreation Area. Explore at your own risk.
Check out these photos of Northern State:
These days, this property is sometimes referred to as Northern State Ghost Town.
Selbe Lynn / Flickr
The Olmstead Brothers, whose father was famous for having designed Central Park in New York, designed the landscape at Northern State.
Selbe Lynn / Flickr Renowned architects designed the buildings.
In addition to patient and staff housing, the site included enough buildings for a self-sustaining community.
Selbe Lynn / Flickr The site included a water reservoir, sewage system, lumber mill, quarry, steam plant, greenhouse, canning facilities, gymnasium, library, laundry, dining room, bakery, dairy, and 700-acre farm for growing vegetables and raising livestock.
There was also a cemetery for the patients who didn’t make it.
Inna B / Yelp
These days, roaming the grounds feels a little ominous.
Selbe Lynn / Flickr
At one time in the 1950s about 2,700 patients lived here.
Eric / Flickr
Patients’ troubles varied from known mental disorders to some rather questionable situations.
Inna B / Yelp Men sometimes committed their post-menopausal wives when the women became “too excitable.” At least one man was committed because he had “religious mania.” There were other cases of orphaned children being committed for what today would likely been diagnosed as ADHD.
Many patients had conditions like senile dementia, manic depression and schizophrenia.
Selbe Lynn / Flickr
The hospital closed in 1973, and other than the buildings that are in use for job corps projects and drug rehabilitation, all that remains are crumbled and deteriorated buildings.
Trish Snyder / Flickr
Needless to say, this place is rumored to be haunted.
Kristin Wall / Flickr Several people have reported seeing a little girl walking around the old buildings, sometimes playing with a red ball. A man who never seems to find her often follows. A ghostly nurse has also been seen.
The buildings that were condemned are considered unsafe to walk through.
Kristin Wall / Flickr If you visit, do so at your own risk.
If you’re interested in seeing what’s left of Northern State Hospital in person, drive 7 miles east on Highway 20 from Burlington, then turn north on Helmick Road and drive for about 3 miles. You’ll turn left into the Northern State Recreation Area parking lot.
Selbe Lynn / Flickr
Selbe Lynn / Flickr
Renowned architects designed the buildings.
The site included a water reservoir, sewage system, lumber mill, quarry, steam plant, greenhouse, canning facilities, gymnasium, library, laundry, dining room, bakery, dairy, and 700-acre farm for growing vegetables and raising livestock.
Inna B / Yelp
Eric / Flickr
Men sometimes committed their post-menopausal wives when the women became “too excitable.” At least one man was committed because he had “religious mania.” There were other cases of orphaned children being committed for what today would likely been diagnosed as ADHD.
Trish Snyder / Flickr
Kristin Wall / Flickr
Several people have reported seeing a little girl walking around the old buildings, sometimes playing with a red ball. A man who never seems to find her often follows. A ghostly nurse has also been seen.
If you visit, do so at your own risk.
If places like this are fascinating to you, hop in the car and take our Abandoned Places Road Trip.
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