The hospital first opened its doors in 1904 in Norwich, Connecticut. It was built in an idyllic location chosen for its therapeutic properties overlooking the River Thames.
The Norwich Insane Asylum was built isolated from civilization, which worked to its benefit as it began to grow during its early years sprouting new buildings that accompanied the original construction (see aerial view of the hospital here). These new construction projects included patient wards, staff cottages, laboratories and workshops. All of the structures were interconnected by a large network of underground utility tunnels. These tunnels transported electricity, hot water, and patients to various areas on the grounds. The hospital remained self-sufficient, almost like a small town, with its own power plant, pump house, working farm, kitchen, theater and church.
Over 3,000 patients and 1,000 employees were residents on the asylum grounds in the 1950’s.
Slowly patients began to leave Norwich State Hospital due to deinstitutionalization and it permanently closed its doors in 1996. Since then time has basically stood still on the property with a few exceptions. Currently there is talk about converting the grounds into a theme park, but nothing has been set in stone.
After a long tedious drive we leave the car in a commuter parking lot close to the buildings. Ever the vigilant group of explorers we notice a State Trooper making his rounds and dive into the forest for cover. Luckily we outsmarted the police yet again and after regrouping walk along the Thames River for a few hundred feet. We finally see the abandoned pump house looming in the distance and decide to make this our entryway into the campus.
This site has a reputation for being well guarded, well patrolled, and does not take kindly to trespassers. I am always on edge when exploring across the Atlantic and the numerous “State Property – No Trespassing” signs that litter the grounds did not bode well for my paranoia. Instead of exposing ourselves above ground to security and prying eyes, we decided to take the underground route through the utility tunnels.
Using the tunnels we explored many buildings without ever being forced to go outside. This method of travel was soon confirmed to be the safest. On our first attempt to venture outside we were only a few feet away from a security officer in a black uniform. Fortunately he didn’t look our way and we quickly receded back into the tunnel network. For a while we hid in the abandoned theater so we could look around the campus without being seen.
This encounter with security dampened our spirits and made our visit a whole lot shorter than we would have liked. We made our grande exit through the empty chapel, this allowed us to avoid walking back through the forest. As we were walking back to the commuter lot to pickup our car we noticed the State Trooper had been watching us as we suspiciously walked down the road. I wonder where we went to and were coming back from?!
Archive document introducing a new therapy (click to enlarge):
Special thanks to Dr. Bob for sharing the old postcards.
So it was on the news tonight that the town of Preston has purchased the property here for a total of $1.00. It's official..this place will soon be gone. It's a real shame. There's so much there to explore and learn. I've been trying to start a group to go and explore but due to security and so on..people don't seem interested anymore. I have never personally been there..but the pics and stories posted on this site nearly make it worth it to go. Anyone been there recently? or willing to start a group to plan and urban exploration before they decide to knock this gem down?
I will pay a reward of ten dollars each month for a certain period of years. If I live for the next 3 years, that would be a reward totaling $360 . If I live for another 5 years, the reward will be a total of $600. the reward is for the return of family medical records. Since I can prove that Alice E. Keach Slater was legally a relative (ancestor) of mine, I feel that I must have a certain legal right to her PATIENT FILES from aprox. 1930 - 1951. She was "released" by death on 1 Aug. 1951 and her patient records did NOT get sent to the Connecticut State Library. Any lawyers out there willing to work for almost pro bono? I would be willing to sign a contract. The max. I would be willing to pay (a lawyer that could obtain the patient records of Alice Elizabeth Keach Slater) is $10 each month for 10 years, which equals a total of $1200. The offering of payment is meant to show how much I want these patient files. I have tried contacting someone about going into the abandoned administration building myself, but got no response. I would prefer to get my ancestors hospital records legally , but that has been difficult because no one wants to take the responsibility to respond. Maybe a petition by all the living relatives .....?
went a couple of weeks ago and i have to say that security is no joke trust me we decided to mess with security and gotted caught they called staties and we ran until gettin caught an hour and a half later the security WILL leave the property to chase you trust me so go if you want to but just dont get screw with security or get seen u will get caught
So I'm coming out that way in March, the 19-24th to be exact. I have a friend who lives here in San Diego and has told me all about this place. I've been very interested in it ever since. I'm not really one to be spooked or believe in the perinormal thing, but do love old places. I would be very interested in taking a tour of the place and getting some photos. A couple other buddies that live out that way refuse to go in or even stop near it. So I'm asking anyone who may know a way to visit without really getting into to much trouble would be willing to go. I'll be checking on this site from time to time in responce.
I had seen this show called "World Scariest Places" and when they did this show talking about Norwich they were saying how they could not talk about the name or location cause the staff did horrible things to the patents. Like torture and unnecessary surgery. I had found out the name obviously but i have not found any web site that says that they did these horrible things. also the amount of security there is ridiculous.
ok so i went in 2006 an 2007 i didnt get to go last year because some started a fire in 2007 i believe in the main building. Dumb ass kids. anyways when i went i know the security guard. he gave me an my sister an well the whole group a tour an took us to where the documents are. i have a brain scan of a 2 year old from there. Just curious anyone ever go to the third floor of the morgue? when i tried to go to the third floor an started to go up the stairs from the second floor all of a sudden it sounded like a group of kids running down the stairs. The werid part was when my group started running i was watching the stairs an no one came down so i started running to catch up with them. The even werider part was before we went in the building we took a pic of the building. It was bright outside when we did an there was no fucking lie a figure in the window on the third floor looking out!!!!!! it looked like a shape of a person but the eyes were black an the figure was all white. i been threw everywhere in that place except the abandoned neighborhood. There is a tunnel i believe that runs right to the place. i really want to go back there to see more an try to find the hidden room i keep hearing about. No one has ever been in it. But i can guranteed that when you go in there an you go to the autortorium an take pics you will see so many faces in your pictures. you got to get close to the lil cloud thing in your camera. an if you find the stuff bear with one eye dont take it i seen it a couple of times when we were the only ones there. but im kinda upset that they took down the fireplace in the main building on the second floor that shit was so beautiful if anyone is interested in going hit me up on myspace url sox13090 thanks
Ok speaking from experience I've been here in groton for over a year and a half now I went about this time last year and the best place to get in is from behind a bar called davids cafe. Its just down the road about half a mile and the woods behind the bar lead to train tracks which lead to the back of the grounds. There arent ANY Dogs I was just there right after new years. and they only have about 5 guards patrolling at a time. They ride around in little cars with flashing lights on them. occasionally a cop will hang out on the grounds but nothing more. They cant have guards in the tunnels because the place is condemed. I've been in the underground tunnels every which way possible and the morgue isnt locked, BTW. Also the state is planning to tear down the buildings THIS YEAR in April I believe. if you want call me 727-967-1139
okay so here it was in november i went to NSH and I was very cautitous there to begin with. First of all why would they beef up security to begin with... It is just costing them more money, and secondly, why would they hire a private security agency the goverment has plenty of that crap to go around. I think for the state of CT to hire them, there has to be something they are covering up and whatever it is, it has to be big! as I read in another post by someone who worked there... everything was just dropped and they had to leave... EVER WONDER WHY? I do, and you know what its there and we haven't found it yet. why else would they tell you to "never return..." now i went there in nov. and saw about 3 security cars thats about it. i do not know about the dogs, i do not think they would bring them in especially at this time of the year and if anyone uses there mind they would scope out which part they are patrolling the most because there is always a reason for that. I went there and got scared out of my mind, I do not know which building i was in, it was the one to left of the bowling alley building if you;re facing mohegan. i went in there with my friend and i thought he said something to me but he was sticking his head out a window looking for security and there it was again but i caught it this time. it was someone screaming like they were being kiled or torutredd or something very horrible was happening after that we left that building in a hurry! i almost shit my pants when i heard it. so from there we went to the bowling alley building next door... we couldnt find a way in... so there was a small wooden roof thing near the door well i climbed up that and got into the 2nd floor window.. sadly my friend booted in the 1rst floor window. after meeting up with him we were walking again and we heard footsteps and again thought it was security so we turned and... no one and we would take about 5 steps and there is was again... this was a very scary place! no place to joke around it felt as though something came over me... so after the 3rd footsteps i swear, no lie... i pulled out my knife and ran out the door!
There is something there! We have yet to find! BUT I AM CONVINCED SOMETHING IS THERE ANYONE WHO WANTS TO GO OR WANTS MORE INFO OR PICTURES
EMAIL AT jdogz41@yahoo.com be glad to give you a tour sometime live 16 minutes away
I have been inside once, just amazing. Has anyone recently been inside (december 2008)? I heard their are dogs and stuff now, and guards inside, sounds like crap but you never know! Please email me if you want to talk about exploring and such! ashleyannne@yahoo.com orr aim is ashleyyannexo
The outside of the building is truly beautiful. I'm doing a photography project of the beauty of many abandon buildings too. I've photographed other beautiful abandon asylums around the NY/NJ area too. Its sad to think that one day they will knock down such interesting buildings
I guess there is no way to go legally. Well I guess I can take pics from far away then.
Hey I'm from jersey and am going to be in the area....anyone know the best way to get in?? thanks!!
jsteelemusic@yahoo.com
to brian, nothing has been torn down.
For many years, even before the NSH closed, it has had "beings" that live there. My family that worked there stated that they could "feel" people that were not physically in the rooms, hear things when all was quiet. Now, with the ability to sense things like that myslef... I hate it when people go to the property and start tampering with things, or destoying things. This causes great distress to what beings live there... and to those who can feel them. All I ask is that if you do plan to visit the NSH, to please have respect for what is there... how would you like for someone to come into your home and desroy things????
damn i was told about this today by a friend that had been there and i wanna go there so fuckin bad, i'm currently in sub school in groton and i wanna ask some questions about this place, me and a whole lot of people want to attempt a night exploration of the grounds and wondering if you can give us advice....the pictures of this place are fucking awesome btw.
A group of us got "broke" into this place in 2000. We went a few times, but the longest expedition was on Halloween in 2000. Spooky stuff. Especially since the place had only been shut down about four years at that point. At that time we knew first hand that some of the crazies would go back there because they had no where else to go. We parked on a small service road right in front of a gate. Kinda stupid I guess, but hey, we were close. We were almost to the main building (Across from it in the grass) when the security gaurd came around.. The crappy part was is that he came to a stop in that big circle and didn't move for a while. Thankfully the grass was very tall because he was shining his spotlight around. Anyways, we just jumped into the tunnel from a spot where the concrete was broken off where a window to the tunnels was. Man, it was a rush. We saw the electro shock therapy machine.. We saw the room where they took all the dead people's stuff. Immigration papers and old wicker wheelchairs. Anyways we went from the oldest parts and then over to the newest part. Anyways, was a good time overall until the end. We had to make a run for it because we thought the security gaurd found us. On the way out I ran into a cat. A cat that is black with a white stripe that is. Yeah. Point blank spraying from a skunk. So, after I ditch my clothes (Brought an extra set for some reason...) we bailed. Anyways, I heard they tore most of this down anyways. Is it still up? I'd love to go back.
My aunt use to work there and the things she heard and saw was crazy. if only u guys could of hear her storys.
Well said, Sir!
The Webmaster.
Thanks all for the comments!
Your excursions instil a renewed feeling of drive to complete my tribute comic based on the computer game series: "Silent Hill". These photographs are fantastic! Wrought with atmosphere and textures I could never have dreamed of.
Thank you for your courage, for the risks, that bring back such amazing images.
~ C.
Guys lets not do anything crazy and make it harder for people to get in after your hell night ! It might be a fun thing to do but not smart... seriously we should stay low in places like this and enjoy them for as long as it lasts...
Great pics and great site... en ik ben best wel trots dat jullie van Belgie zijn!!! ha
Hey Whats Up Guys?,I Just Wanted To Tell About My Personal Experience In The "Norwich Nuthouse",Me & A Buddy Of Mine Went There Back In April Of 2004,While We Were Serving In The Navy At The Sumarine Base In Groton.Since We Were That Close,We Just Had To Go Check It Out.So One Beautiful Sunday In April We Took The 30min. Or So Drive From Groton To The Asylum,Needless To Say We Had Done our Homework& Were Very Well Prepared Complete, W/2 Small Flashlights,A CrowBar,Screwdrivers,A Small Sacklunch,Plenty Of Water,& 3 Disposable Cameras,& 1 digital Camera.We Were All Set For A Wonderful Day Of Bone-Chilling,Ghostly Exploration.We Parked Up The Hill & Directly Behind The Firestation,The Walk To The Campus Was A Cinch,& As We Arrived There Was No Security Guards In Sight.We Entered Through A Busted Wooden Panel In The Admin. Building & Began Navigating Our Way Through All The Various Entrances,& Eventually Worked Our Way Down To The Basement & the Ominous & Eerie Underground Tunnels.We Were Able To Navigate A Good Portion Of This Section Via The Tunnels.I Maintained A Steady Onslaught Of Pictures Throughout & Upon Development Several Orbs Of Varius Sizes,As Well As A Great Deal Of Plasma Was Revealed, But Really Nothing Concrete,My Buddy On The Other Hand Had Alittle More Luck Than Me Due To The Fact That He Had A Very High Dollar & Efficient Digital Camera,Whereas I Only Had 3 Cheap Disposables,His Pictures Revealed A Clear,Honest To Goodness Full Bodied Appariton In The Patient Ward At The End Of The Hallway.It Appears To Be Of a Male patient Walking Across The Hall,Very Disturbing Indeed,As We Were The Only Ones There & In Pitch Black Aside From Our Flashlights. Most Of The Inside Is Very Dank&Dark,& One Could Easily Trip & Fall,As I Almost Did On A Couple Of Ocassions( Should Have Brought A Bigger Flashlight).The Whole Place Is Creepy As Hell W/A Good Majority Of The Original Setup & Hospital Items Still Intact,Why They Just Left Everything There Is Beyond Me.We Spent A Solid 6hrs Entertaining Ourselves On All The Various Sights & Sounds,We Visited The Theater Speaking Of Sounds The Whole Escapade Was very Uneventful For The Most Part,Until A Section Of the Patient Ward We Were Investigating Produced Some Faint Bellowing(It Seemed Like It Was Coming From Inside The Walls) ,As Well As A Very Unsettling & Also Very Loud beeping Sound that I Swear On All Things Holy Was Chasing & Following Us,It was Seemingly Everywhere,Yet Nowhere& One Minute It Was Coming From In Front Of Us,The Next It Was Directly Beside,Or Behind Us.In Any Case We Imediately Turned Around & Got The Hell Out Of There. This Was By Far The Scariest Part Of Our Investigation.Me & My Friend Rick Are Avid Self Proclaimed Ghost Hunters Although Amateur,We Do Have A Vast Amount Of Knowledge & Eperience On The Subject.But Anyway We Got outside ASAP & Literally Skipped The Adjacent Building Due to An Intense Feeling Of Sadness & A Very Bad Feeling That We Shouldn't Go In There,Plus We Had Just Gotten The Crap Scared Out Of Us, Which Probably Had Something To Do With It. So We Trusted Our Gut Instincts & Instead Made Our Way To the Main Building Further On Down The Campus,But Also Closer To A White Security Vehicle That Was Patrolling the Grounds.We Ended up Having To Duck & Hide Behind The Building,& Then Again Behind Some Bushes As It Rolled Slowly Past Us.(This Made The Whole Experience All The More Exciting Being The Risk-Takers That We Are) We Pried Open A Big Piece Of Plywood That Just Wouldnt Give,So Ended Up Busting The Window Out & Entering In That Manner.(Surprised It Wasnt Already Shattered)But Anyway We Investigated This Building With No Activity Whatsoever & Continued To Snap Photos,& Being Sure to Stay In The Light,After Our Very Frightening Experience In The Nut Ward.We Saw Everything From Old Tv Sets,Rickety Wheelchairs,Gurnies,Old Canned Goods,Various Documents Scattered About Among Chairs & Bedframes,& Even Caught A Glimpse Of The Shock Therapy Room.By Now It Was Getting To Be Around 4:30,We Had Been There Since About 9:30 & Were Tired & Hugry,So We Decided To Call It A Day.With Cameras Expended,& The Satisfaction Of Having Had What We Consider To Be Positive Paranormal Actvity We Made Our way Back Through The Now Broken Window, Careful to Steer Clear Of The Jagged Glass,(I look At It Like This,We Just Made It Alot Easier For Others To Enter The Complex By Breaking The Window)We Also Made Sure It Was All Clear,& After The Security Was Out Of Site,We Walked Back Up To the Car.Our Investigation Of The Hospital Was Far From Complete However,& We Just Scratched The Surface Of The Campus....Its Huge,Much Larger Than I Had Initially Thought.I'm Now Out Of The Navy,& Back Home In Oklahoma,But Do Plan On Going Back With My Brother,& Best Friend When Time & Money Permits.In My Personal Opinion This Site Is as Scary & as Haunted As It Gets,& Looking Back,The Whole Experience Was Very Fun & Exciting,Even Though I Nearly Pissed Myself In The Process LoL.Thats My Story & I'm Stickin To It. ...P.S For Further Info Or Just To Chat I Can Be Reached At brian_snow2002@yahoo.com
I have heard that the best way to get to the hospital is through the tunnels but I have heard that some of them are very dangerous because they are old and starting to colapse, I want to see this so badly but I do not want to die haha.
My mom was a nurse and used to work in this hospital and then there later as a patient advocate. It's a really beautiful area but it definetly gives you the willies when you're on the grounds there . . . . Wally Lamb wrote his NY Times bestseller, I Know This Much is True, based on his research at this hospital. It's an amazing story that will suck you right in about 2 identical twins, one of which was schizophrenic. This would be a good place to visit and if you get bored, there are 2 casinos w/in 20 minutes!!
i went to the hospital and took pics of it and the graveyard,one pic
looks like a boy on a swing. very spooky! i would love to go inside and explore.
So we climbed though the hole today and had an excellent time exploring. We had the holy shit scared out of us every time we looked out the windows though, it was like they were following us. We finally fled even though I'm sure we weren't seen, two of us forgot out headlight (a must!) and the one with the light was never looking where I was stepping. I have to go back right away as we came from the West Coast to do a project on the other side of the river. Hope to see some friendly faces tomorrow. Good luck all!!
I just went there today...went well....got right into a building and just used the tunnels.....first time ive been there...i plan on going back, security there is a joke nothing to worry about. Just pay attention and you should be fine.
Just went september 15th security was tight ended up gettin chased but no dogs thank god. awsome place to see a piece of history
I almost got caught by the staties here, fair warning when they show up they have a habit of bringing a dog with em so basicly run like a bitch cause they will find you. and yeah this place is uber haunted me and a few buddies went in one night and doors started slamming we bugged the hell out
Having been in there about 7 or 8 times, I can say that security is really nothing to worry about. I have ran right across their field of vision and yet they have failed to see me, Or they just don't care. The best idea if you WANT to sneak in is to park at "Thamesview Apartments"-(Located DIRECTLY behind the LAUREL HILL FIRE DEPARTMENT). If you go down the hill and park near the woods closest to NSH, You should be able to find an empty spot. There is a trail that leads down to the train-tracks, and from there you can pick your choice of entry, Whether it be the first tunnel that sticks out of the ground-(As of August 1st 08, It is completely boarded on one side with bolts and such, But if you go around to the other side, There is a board that can be pulled back enough for a person of generous size to fit through, Just be careful to not let the board snap down and make any loud noises). Or you can go farther up the tracks and use the staircase by the oil-tanks. There is usually AT LEAST 3 security guards on property-(2 rover/1 base). These security guards do not have legal right to detain you, So if they see you, Your best bet is to run before the cops get there, Also, If you have access to a portable digital police scanner, I WOULD HIGHLY RECCOMEND IT!!!, The guards are not supposed to go in the buildings, But if they call the State Police then the State Police CAN & WILL go in the buildings. I would reccomend that if you have a digital scanner to monitor troop e's dispatch channel, If you need any info on the state hospital or how to monitor the state police radio traffic, Please email me at benz_s600v12@yahoo.com (Be sure to put Norwich State Hospital in the subject line). I hope this helps.........Enjoy!!!
chels. don't worry about it, lol. same as the mills it should only be a 92 dollar simple trespass fee....as we already know. criminal trespass is designed for peoples houses and schools usually. not for an abandoned insane asylum.
but all the same, lets just not get caught
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