Welcome to the Hudson River State Hospital located in the United States in Poughkeepsie, New York. This gigantic hospital has overlooked the Hudson River for 136 years since its initial construction in 1871. The various hospital buildings were constructed and belong to the famous Kirkbride architectural order (read more on this excellent website).
The hospital was divided into two wings, for male and female patients, with an administration section located in the center. The male wing was much larger than the respective female wing. This was caused by the number of patients being unequal between the sexes (see the sky view from the hospital using the link above).
The beauty of the decay was unbelievable in this hospital. Most of the original constructions had been preserved.
Future renovation construction of the hospital were planned long ago. A fire, caused by lightning, burned the male wing in June 2007. As of the date of this article, the fate of Hudson Psyche Center remains unknown.
Hopefully this awesome Kirkbride will be saved. The United States is certainly not Europe and listing historical buildings as monuments might not be enough to protect them…
Archive documents dated between 1891 and 1918 (click on a thumbnail to enlarge):
Special thanks to Dr. Bob for sharing the old postcards.
Reference for the scanned documents: Handbook of the State Hospital Commission and the Hospitals for the Insane, 1918, E.S.Graney.
The sign in front of the building read, The Hillcrest School For Children. If you click on the aeriel view above and zoom in just a bit, you can see the small building above the Hudson view dr. Above that and to the right you can see a clearing. Again, above that and is Mikes auto center on 9. Hillcrest is the easest place to get to as from Mikes, you can walk in. I know this because in the mid 60's, Mike's was a bowling alley where one could sneak up the hill and buy a pack of cigarettes. Half the kids at Hillcrest were throw away kids that the powers that be, didn't know what to do with, I was one of them. The first time I saw "One Flew Over the Koo-koos nest I was painfully brought back to my days at Hillcrest. For the most part, the staff there was very much like the head nurse in the movie. Anyone who had a heart couldn't stay long or if they did, they became just as cold and indifferent as the rest. I never heard the story about the brothers, maybe it happened at another time far from my time.
I'd also like to mention that there were children born to the patients that stayed at Hillcrest before either being adopted or taken by the patients family.
Someone posted a question about Hillcrest- it was the building for children. Ages 5 to 16. Its hard to imagine a child as insane, but some had conditions not understood then like they are know. Autism, ADHD, schezophrania (sorry if I spelled that wrong and epilepsy. Others were phychotic. Some were appointed by courts- there were 2 brothers I know of ahes 8 and 9 who were there for killing their baby brother (they threw him out a window)
After hearing all the strange noises and screamings (My friend has the voice recorder with random long screams in the distance) and seeing some strange shadows, me and my 2 other friends decided to go during daylight because we have not yet went into the buildings, nor did we go see the main building. we went and looked everywhere. and one word came to mind... "WOW" the place is so beautiful. We went into a couple of buildings... and we were trying to get int the electric building.. but there was NO way in... only by a window. so we decided to not go in. BUT HERES THE CREEPY PART. AS WE STARTED WALKING FROM THE BACK OF THE ELECTRIC BUILDING BY SOME GENERATORS WE LOOKED BACK AND THERE WAS A GUY WITH A MUSTACHE. he looked at us... Leaned back so we couldn't see him. and leaned forward again. Is this the famous Pipe Robber? Freakin' creepy person lol!.. We were too sared to go in any of the buildings... not scared of ghosts but scared of what real people live in there.
Has anyone bumped into any real people in any of the buildings?
Me and some friends have been here about three of four times. The first time we went we searched the whole main building and found nothing. We have also searched a lot of the buildings on the outskirts of the property(near the church) and Ryon Hall. Getting into Ryon hall was a bitch but a crow bar worked. If you visit this place dont expect to see or hear any spirits. And if you find any mop handles without the mop keep that shit.
Me and a few people went, we were soo siked. Like we were gunna see some scary stuff? Alright this was about 4 months ago During the winter. We went at midnight, First we came to the asylum Big gothic building. We were looking how to get in for about an hour, then we came along a basement window. We had to go in soo we went in and could see that mad people go in it, and that it's just an abandon place were there's nothing but lead chipping walls and dust. i mean come on we walked all around this place tryed getting into every single building , and didn't hear a thing. I mean there fucking mcdonalds bags everywhere and coors light cans everywhere. It's really nothing! Then we came across the hospital. We found a way in thru the boys bathroom window to the left of the main entrance. you can go right in. And again there's nothing in there. We went on every floor and throw everyroom. It looks like firemen used it for practice building. It's not scary at all. What we had to find was the underground tunnle. We never found it. We had no clue where it began , but we knew that there had to be some freaky stuff in it. Soo tonight i was watching the travel channel and the poughkeepsie insane asylum comes on. And, Where do they go? THE TUNNEL!!!!. Now we know Building 5 Walk right in. And wala were at the entrance to the miles and miles long tunnel. I can't wait were going again. Who's down?? More people come thru this tunnel the better!!
Hey all. I'm from around the area and always willing to dispense info about this place to whoever asks, and I don't mind playing tour guide during trips either. If there's anything about it you'd like to know, feel free to email me: Sestet@gmail.com.
hey everyone...ive been there afew times but only for alittle while...the cops got us twice but said they were putting us on the blog....i would love to find the morgue if anyone knows of its exact locations please visit my site and leave me info, also anyone want to explore and do an investigation with me and my team let me know...
looking for anyone interested in doing some paranormal investigating up at the old hospitals late at night ,ive been up their a couple of times and heard and saw some things that i couldnt explain. so if interested just leave me a post. Thanks
We will be going back.. during the day time.. take a few pictures of the beautiful place... then we are going to stay a night in the place... kind of making us NOT have a choice...we'll see though... I'm almost positive we will.. Everyone is looking up for it
I picked out the place.. and i felt like "Oh it's just some other 'false' ghost places... it's not going to be all good" but my friends looked at me after that and said "What were you thinking!! LOL" This isnt some place to play around... the first time... we went around 10 PM.. went around cheney and looked around ryon hall.. We had twilight so we didnt have to turn on any lights. we didnt really see anything out of the ordinary.. i guess it was too early for /'Them'/.
We went last night around 2am... and let me tell you we did NOT make it passed the parking lot of the place... (We came in from Home depot) As soon as we came in... we heard screaming, looked at a window in ryon hall.. and saw a faint light (Not the lightning bugs because the light in the window did not flash), Looked up at cheney and saw an open door on the roof and saw someone peeping in and out... we saw the head.. and half of it's body.. the person was dressed in all white. Then we saw a dark figure.. coming out of the entrance.. coming towards us.. then the apparition hid in the bushes next to the entrance.. then he "respawned" next to us next to Ryon hall. we felt a FREEZING presence. It wasn't breezy.. it was just a cool feeling... everyone left it.. and i felt it on my hand (I was wearing a sweater because we thought it was going to rain) After some more screaming... more figures, the sounds of of bottles being moved, and lights we decided to go... got some EVPs (My friend said she got a lot of screams on the recorder when she asked questions) while we were walking... we felt cold EVERYWHERE... like if someone, or somethings were escorting us out. i walked fast 4 feet in front of me.. then i would feel regular.. then slowly began to feel cold again. we felt that way until we passed the gate. we looked back and we could see someone backing side to side... as if he was watching us leave the property ( we named him the gate keeper) and the apparition walked into the wilderness next to ryon hall..
We did want to go inside.. but let me tell you... Stuff started happening as soon as we went into the parking lot of the old place.
I wouldn't recommend going BY yourself. or with 2-3 people. You need a pack. This is some serious shit. My friend who has seen ghosts has never been to an asylum... he said "I have an uneasy feeling about this... Haunted houses and cemeteries are one thing... Asylums and hospitals are another."
I don't think the place is patrolled... We saw one cop... we waited till he left and went in... 30 minutes after we came out the first time (we went back and fourth the same night about 3-4 times) the police came back to the same place... almost like they were toying with us timing us how long we would last in there. but we didn't get stopped or anything.
I was there twice last year; one visit, I checked out the female wing of the Kirkbride and the other I checked out the Cheney Building. For the Kirkbride, just be careful in the female wing; the floors are really sagging there. I hugged the walls and watched my step and all was good. As for the Cheney Building, the pealing paint is really cool and when you get to the upper floors, make your way out to the roof for a spectacular view of the Hudson River and the campus! Be safe!
First off.. Me and my 2 other friends went last night. Outside in front of the Ryon and Cheney building.. towards an odd looking building.. We started hearing voices... We had the voice recorder, And we listened to it.. and my friend asked "Is there anyone walking with us?" and we heard a very faint little girl voice saying "mhm" We're amateur ghost hunters but my friend has a lot of equipment. We didn't bring all of the equipment unfortunately.
We didn't go inside the building.. We were what you call too "scared" lol. We'll go hopefully soon and take some pictures, but for now.. can someone send me some blueprints? Suggestions on where we should go in and take pictures? Where have you been? It seems like the only "interesting" building in that whole property is the Ryon hall and the Cheney building.
my email is xxxrichievxxx@gmail.com
I just moved from Cali to Yonkers.. my first time being in a haunted place My all time dream.
Thank you
Fabulous site, and stunning photographs. Love it. thanks so much for sharing all of this. I have to admit (esp. since I am in healthcare) that I am amazed that so many indentifying records seem to have been left behind. The vial of Dextran is spooky, too!
Is there a place where patients records have been kept....my grandmother was there between the 1930's thru 1950's where she pass away.....Eileen
HEY CHRISTINE THE MORGUE/LAB IS UP BE HIND THE KIRKBRIDE BUILDING.IF YOU WALK THROUGH ONE OF THE 2 CORRIDORS ON EITHER SIDE OF THE ADMINISTRTION BUILDING YOU WILL COME INTO THE COURT YARD WHERE YOU WILL SEE A LONG ROAD WHICH RUNS BETWEEN THE BUILDINGS , JUST FOLLOW THAT AND THE MORGUE IS A 2 STORY BUILDING WHICH IS LIKE ONE OF THE LAST BUILDINGS ON YOUR RIGHT. NOT SURE IF IT IS STILL HAS A #.IN THE BASEMENT THEY DO HAVE RECORDS ON PEOPLE WHO PASSED AWAY AND CAME THROUGH THIS BUILDING,WITH NAMES AND DATES ON EACH CARD FOR EACH PERSON.I READ A COUPLE OF THEM WHICH WERE FROM THE 70S.I WILL TRY AND E MAIL YOU WITH MORE INFO
I found a website with a small list of buildings and their numbers. Where is Building 45 located (Mortuary/lab)? Where can I find a map of the whole site, not just the main Kirkbride buildings?
Anyone know what Brookside was for?
Do all buildings still have numbers on them? Where to find the number? If no number did it fall off, or it was just perhaps a storage shed???
Does the old Psych Center really have crazy security? What happens if you're on the grounds and get caught?
What exactly was the Hillcrest School for Children?
Is the museum still open?
Can I find old patient records?
I'm really interested in the history of this place, and would LOVE LOVE LOVE any and all info. It seems like the history of this place is just erased, I can hardly find anything online.
Please e-mail me with anything and everything at chillturkey@gmail.com. THANK YOU!!
I took my first visit with a friend yesterday afternoon. I did not have a map or much background information so getting around was a bit difficult. We went into some of the smaller buildings where we found a small office, old books, paperwork, etc...Also, when we were approaching what seemed to be the main sector of the building, a truck roared up with his lights blaring and we took off and hid in a tunnel we found in the basement. Our main interest was to go there and explore the indoor pool, gym, patients rooms and if possible the morgue. If anyone has been there recently and would be so kind to give me info or escort us around, please email me at nucka7290@yahoo.com
Thanks.
hey you know telling us how much security is there or you have there is really a dumn ass thing to do you know dumn ass can call you that ok good reading your last post sound's like a threat an also your calling us all out SO IAM HEADING UP THAT WAY WHEAN I GET THERE THE SECURITY WILL THINK IT'S HELL NIGHT GOOD LUCK ! PS CHEECH I HOPE I SEE YOU THERE IT'S SOUNS'S LIKE WERE ON THE SAME PAGE
hey how are you guys. this i smy first time posting on this site. i've been to a bunch of different places locally all listed with weird nj unfortunately and i would love to check out this hospital with some real explorers if possible. if you think that we can arrange this contact me at siscoinferno@gmail.com
pressing charges for what, people just wanting to check out and explore the great buildings up their. CATCH ME IF YOU CAN
just a fair warning to all those who are entering the buildings.beware there is now 5 times the amount of security there.and i will be pressing charges
Led Zep,
I am not sure if Ryon Hall had a morgue or not, but I am quite sure Cheney did. My access to areas in Ryon Hall were limited. Before they moved out, I had access to hallways and the service elevator and the south wing from 1st floor to basement. Alot of times doors were left open, mainly by patients that snuck around the building. After they moved out , and for 2 more years we had only access to the entrance to the left of that loading dock you see from Home Depot area. We were allowed access to the courtyard in the center of the building wings, and basement to that big mechanical room which always had about 6 inches of water in it. They plated all the locks so my skeleton key(which I still have with a number 1 on it) would only work in certain locks. Basement area always heard female voices and screams well beyond the time the hospital moved out. We were there for 2 years alone in the one south wing, and moved the day after 911 sept 12, 2001.
yeah deff.we tryed to get back there but it was crawling with people im not sure who they are didnt get close enough.but leave a way i can get aho0ld of you
Steve did you know that Ryon Hall was built in 1935 and god only knows what kind of stuff was done to the patients back then like electro shock therapy and how many may have died their.Do you know if there was a morgue down their.I dont know if you believe in the paranormal but what else may be causing the unexplained things happening their.Thanks for the info.
I work for MARC, and when our Detox was in Ryon Hall, I had a storeroom in the cellar and in the back where the old kitchen storeroom was. There was a lot of weirdness going on, and I use to hear the same type of stuff you did. There was an old walk in cooler back there and some days the door would be closed and noone could open it, but there would never be anyone back there, the cellar was a whole different craziness, weird how that is still going on 9 years after we left there.
yo trsilblazer i read your post and ive been up their several times. the place is truly amazing and there are alot of strange things that go on up their.i dont know if you believe in the paranormal,but the things that i have heard and seen up their are unexplainable espacially in Ryon Hall down in the old detox section in the basement.have you been in the tunnels yet.well let me know because i would be down to going back there again but just a couple weeks ago some jerks set some fires up their so im not sure if there are any security around or not now.talk to you soon!
www.poughkeepsiejournal.com
Be careful, Town and Fire Companies Pushing for more security up there!
ok so i read all 72 comments and after this..i explored the area with a few friends we searched a good part of the place and saw some amazing things the lay out of the building is amazing.on the other hand we herd some noise's and doors slaming couldnt figure out what was going on..we had limited light and seen things moving in the window.granted it was 86 out we could of been seening stuff..im trying to find more people to go that know the area let along a good spot to park.if anybody is willing to go let me know i have my friends that are down for what ever..leave a comment or email me back
Im looking for anyone in the area that would be interested in giving me some pointers on this. I'm interested in checking it out, but I'm not sure exactly how to go about it. If anyone could give me a hand, it would be much appreciated
1998-2018 (c) - www.Forbidden-Places.net - Contact
[fr] 
[es]
