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.
Spent years exploring there in the 80's From creepy gear and rooms where they treated the patients in the late 1800's to hanging dead cats in an attic. The place was and may be still EPIC. I hear the last bit of it closed so its all done. new bldgs to check out. Anyway I lived there so I want to point out a HUGE BUNKER that goes towards and I believe under the grounds. Its the earstern most portion of the grounds on the west side of the lake. Its just 400 yards west of the BASEBALL FIELDS right b4 BIRCHER Ave in that Clear spot with road to it. That bunker always freaked me out, never got in. A CIA looking dude asked me if I wanted to go in once, and look around but I was wise enough to say hell no and be on my way. Near the entrance to the baseball fields were 4 round underground silos About 15 feet deep. Graffiti'd them up and partied in them. They were covered over when the fields were redone. Would be interesting to see what people would think if they were ever uncovered. LoL Anyways a secret scoop from one who grew up, lived and partied right there. Always was rumors of a large underground complex there. And the Bunker is right there and the hospital is on top of the hill tops. Also alot of cool old roads that havnt been used in 50+ years. Alot of them were blocked but we would ride our 3 wheelers and dirt bikes in. Was awesome escape routs and good for partys.
whent up there a few days ago. iv been there many many times befor. there hasent been any cops up there for a while tho so if your looking to go go soon .theres the tunels that leed right up to ryon hall and if you take yoyr first right in the tunnels your going to come to the electric shock tretment room.tunels located behind the main hospotal by the basket ball corts across the roud...hope this helped.
went yesterday. could not believe how big the place is. easy access through windows on ground floors or quite a few side doors were open. we parked @ the Home Depot & there is an easy trail in the back that was less then 5 minutes to the buildings. came across 2 guys in the administration building stripping copper pipes. stayed clear of them but came across many others just exploring the grounds. was confronted by the cops but was let go w/ a verbal warning as we had not been in any buildings. we were in plenty of buildings just not caught in one. was a lot of fun & can't wait to return.
Was there for the first time in a long time during daylight and I have to ask, was the kirkbride always in such a sorry shape? I'm not referring to the burned out shell of the male ward but the administration and female ward itself. I noticed windows smashed out in administration and stuff. This is disheartening because the last thing i would want is for further exposure to the elements for the already deteriorating kirkbride. Sigh. Things don't look so well for this landmark, it seems more likely it will be completely demolished because no one cares anymore. Breaks my heart but vandals are destroying everything and it would cost more money than it's worth to preserve. So sad. Plus i see the pipe robbers are making short work of Cheney. All the radiators are gone, so sad.
statehospitaldemolition.blogspot.com
ue-hunter.blogspot.com
Enjoy!
came across some pics on reddit today, thought people would be interested
www.reddit.com
Firstly you should find your own username as i have been using this one for some time on here, and secondly if your gonna be any type of "explorer" or whatever it is you noobs are callin it these days then learn to do your own research. Its web stupidity that helps these pigs catch on to what we are all trying to do so i suggest a better method than just blurting descriptive details out on here would be to email one another. Despite what everyone may think these caretakers,security etc do read through these boards.
went back yesterday for a great visit! found lots of interest things in there including a hugeee locked safe. We also found fresh paint in there,apparently "shook" is gone or dead or whatever,only to be procedded by "Evol" who ive seen more and more around the hudson valley,anyway anyone have any cool spots they always goto?!?! bwsides the roof or bowling alley,even a building that almost no one knows about ??please reply!! Hpaay exploring!
today me my girlfriend and one of our friends who is a photographer visited the grounds,upon our arrival when walkin down the hill past the garage with the weird creepy skull head on it i knew i was in for a interesting afternoon.... my girlfriend suddenly became very worried and had a bad feeling like something was wrong... when we discoverd the biluldings we went into one of them and as soon as i walked in there was human poop by the door?? strange right!! we didnt go more than 10 feet in the door i felt like thewre was something or someone in there with us..when we walked out i looked back at the building and it looked ;like someone was in the window holding the curtain back so my friend took a picture,while walkin away we all felt like we were being watched and became very alert of our surroundings we continue to walk toward the main building and thats when it started... my girlfriend said she heard a woman screaming from a distance and we all stopped and stood silent and then we all heard it!!! it was 100 percent a woman screaming in pain comming from the building we were standing in front of totally freaked me out.. we all know what a screaming woman sounds like and this was the real thing!!! as we continued on takin photos and woundering what the hell happen there we all heard yet again a strange noise this time it sounded like a piano playing in the distance and that was reall really creepy!!!!! i noticed some graffiti that was super fresh and lokkede a lot better than the nonsense that was there like some kid james who wrote his name on a garage door,ive seen the graffiti before some kid sipha did some stuff there it was nice i seen him on a graffiti video as well as magazines...... when we were leaving we heard a reallly reaallly loud bang come from inside the building that sounded like a door being slammed shut by apowerful force... didnt see any cops or dudes in pickup trucks.. had a really awesome time cant wait to go back our visit was cut short by rain!!!! be back soon
Does anyone know if there is a museum of Hudson River State Hospital now and where it is? I have left 2 phone messages for the Town of Poughkeepsie- the historian, and haven't gotten any response. Seems no one ever answers the phone in the Town Hall. I would love to see if there is still a museum. There was certainly enough stuff to fill one!
Were originally in Kirkbride (the main hospital at the time) the part that didn't burn.
They were then moved to Cheney, and eventually dismantled.
There was a Mueseum of the beds, and equipment in Cheney on first floor, left of the elevators; They also had some equipment from different time periods as well.
This things I know having worked there, family worked there, and found a few things by accident as well.
thx for the info i kind of was thinking the same thing that it might be for electro shock therapy,not sure .i might have a picture of the room if i do i will post it.when did they start and stop doing electro shock therapy? Kriminal the building is poucher and i got in from a side tunnel off the main tunnels when entering from the side of cheney.but that intrance is welded shut now.Maybe i can meet you up their sometime,i love to explore this place.Was up their about a month ago ,so let me know if you want to check it out . Have you ever been to Letchworth Village a pretty good place to explore , about an hour from here towards west point ,a very creepy place.Google it lots of info on it.
The actual building to the left and just very slightly back to the courts was Poucher Hall- the dorm for married couples, male and senior students as I stated before. There was a laundry area downstairs and a kitchen and rec room, but nothing like what you are describing at all when I was there. It sounds to me like either a dentist office or electro shock therapy set-up, but there were no patients at all in that building. If you mean the huge building to the right of the courts as you are facing up the hill to the Main building, that is Ryan Hall, and although I don't remember ever being in that basement, there might have been an electro shock type room there. We had patients in some if the upper floors of Ryan Hall, and there was a big cafeteria (I think on the first floor if I remember correctly) where students and staff members ate. I used to joke with my friends who were complaining about the food at their schools- seriously- they were complaining about college food, when we were served the same food the state hospital patients got- not great stuff- especially when it was made in such huge quantity.
Hey this building your talking about is next to courts? is it ryon? cuz the only other ones around courts is cheney/snow/pouch i only ask because im curious to see this room also have only found one tunnel entrance thats not sealed up so curious about them as well thanx. I guess answer best you can without being too descriptive here..
i got into that building from tunnels.on bottom floor or basement where i got in there was a couple of rooms , one which was very strange.It had a metal door and the room was very small.On the floor in the center of the room was a drain and in the corner of the room was a concrete slab that had electrical wires coming up through.It looked like there was a chair or something mounted on it at one time and on the wall next to it was some sort of circuit breakers with big handles on them that looked like something you would see for an electric chair circuit switch to turn power on and off.this room was very,very strange .Just wondering if you knew about that room or seen it when staying their.I love hearing about the history of the place and any info would be great.Reason why im so intrigued with this place is because my aunt and great aunt both stayed their in the 70s and i would go and visit with my mother when i was about 8 or so, but cant really remember much .For some reason i think they were in the Cheney building and from what i can remember both were a little crazy.just would like to know more info about the place.Thx for all your time and help.
No- sorry- maybe that sounds confusing. The only morgue (and lab) was in the back of the Main building (the Kirkbride). The nursing school was in Cheney, but as students we were all over the place. Also, just a note, that when someone died who had family they were notified to take care of the body, but there were plenty of people with no family contact, so those would be the ones who would have needed a place, and probably got sent to the 'poor" section of the local cemetery. That's just my guess. Happy to answer any questions about the place. It was my "home" for 3 years during training.
so there is a morgue in the Cheney building ? havent been able to find it .also does Ryon Hall have a morgue?The only morgue i have found is up behind the Kirkbride in the back.Thx for any info
I was a nursing student at HRSH and graduated in 1974. The school of nursing was in the Cheney building To answer some questions and comment on some some of the issues: The morgue was open at least through 1973 because we saw an autopsy there. In my 3 yrs there, I never saw a cemetery, and never really thought about it. There is none on my map of the grounds either. As senior students taking psychology, we had to attend a funeral of a patient (which was REALLY sad- no one else there and the only true pine box coffin I have ever seen), but I have no idea where the body went after it left the chapel, so maybe there really is no cemetery on the grounds. The building between Cheney and the Snow building is Poucher- it housed staff members and senior nursing students. My room mate and I lived in the corner 2 rooms on the top floor on the right. We spent hours playing volleyball on the court to the right of the building. The building to the right of the Main building, Avery Hall was the all female lower class nursing student dorm where we were all housed until senior year. "Administration" was in the Main Building when I was there. There was no specific separate building with that name. Our class photos were taken in the large auditorium right inside the center of the building. The "Historic" designation was given to the Main building only (Kirkbride). Since the fire has done so much significant damage (along with the vandals), it may not be too difficult for that designation to be removed, especialy if the price is right I should think. As for the violent wards question- there were multiple wards with potentially violent patients in various buildings. These were the "locked wards". They were in Ryon Hall, but in other buildings as well. The truely criminally insane were sent to Mattaewan State Hospital in Beacon, NY. It is a fascinating old place with LOTS of history- very understandable that younger people want to check it out, but so very sad that it is being destroyed. I had a wonderful 3 years living there and going to school there. And it was certainly interesting!!!
went today and discovered theres power and generator running in powerhouse not sure why but never was on before.
Chris the morgue is not on the second floor of any building. It is however behind the Main building next to what used to be the Police/Fire Station.
It's simple a small room with a few slabs. They did do autopsies there up until the 1960's from what i understand.
I used to work there in the Cheney building on the Admissions Unit on Ward 204.It was a Male ward which housed up to 55 guys. That was on the second floor....
Do your own Research or hook up with others that know the grounds, I know of many people that visit these grounds regularly and if your not going to destroy this Historical Gem they will have no problem showing others around...Posting enterances and other Locations that are keeps under wraps just get these places Destroyed, I myself have no problem showing others the places I know as well...Just watch what you Post. CatchMeIfUCan-Urban Xploration
go here a few times a week the cops dont go as much as you might think plus how will they get you in the first place. Plus if your going just to see and not hurt they dont mind at all. its the people that want to ruin who should get caught. Ive caught a few myself up there and scared em off there is night patrol so watch your back keep lean and say hi if you dont mind :> either way this is history dont break and steal how would you like it if somebody did that to you in your own house? this place is fun tho id say everyone should go unless its some nights......The other night i saw what is actually there for the first time and i never want to see them again it went right through me.....i never saw before that night....I hope you all get to feel that one time :> goodluck
Billy Corgan
There is a small group of us looking for others interested in getting together to do some urban exploring, we are fairly new at this so would appreciate any feedback/help. Thank you Paul
Went up a few days ago in the day with no problem,went into all the main buildings including the morgue and factory ith the smoke stack.However when we were on the roof of chenney we saw the white pickup with a uniformed cop walking past it towards the building. never seen a cop just walking around in there,did this happen to anyone else ever?? please email me at af1king845@yahoo.com .Id be glad to help with ways in some of the harder buildings just email me. happy exploring besafe!!
If anyone needs help getting to buildings or anything with entering just email me. I'll be glad to help you through the grounds. But I will not accept any vandalism. Any questions or help email me. schwingerryan6@gmail.com
The driver of the red pickup is named Ron. He knows everything and anything about building 51 and the surronding buildings. He patrols every so often. Please do not give away ways of entering the building, it spoils future visits to all other urban explorers. And of course, take nothing with you but your photographs, and leave nothing but your footsteps.
yea idk about this nightime patrol stuff as im there quite often as well and have never seen a red truck the caretaker is a dirty redneck that drives a white pickup and he wont hesitate to chase people and/or call the po and christian does have point these pigs and caretakers/security they all check these forums so my advice if someone says something that interests you then mail them or whatever you gotta do but DO NOT reveal anything about this place or any place these forums are great however far from safe. Everybody be safe and be smart and take care of this place and any of the other places we all visit because they are not gonna be around forever and we're lucky to still even have them now look at norwich, pilgrim and kings park as well as all the others that have been torn down for lavish condos and strip malls appreciate what we have. - Eff "caretakers"
I seriously doubt that there are security guys walking the grounds all night. I've seen shadowy figures but I knew they couldn't be real. I mean they'd have to be crazy to walk around throughout the buildings at night searching for people. I know regular security for the most part won't go into the lead and asbestos filled buildings. Although I think it's stupid that they'd be driving around patrolling. What would they want to protect so badly anyway?
this place is well patrolled at times depends when you go. Been there about a 100 times now with friends never touched anything never hurt anything because its a perfect place. If you go have some respect and enjoy it for what it is the history and the lives that were held here. Plus have u seen the dudes who patrol it at night? 2 guys in black there always there now kinda creepy they come outta nowhere must know the place so well they dont use any lights they where in a building last night and on the roads they must know this place to well......
Ive seen the red pickup hanging out in front of the kirkbride. I don't know who they are, I thought maybe they were property managers but then they could be security. I dunno.
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