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.
Yes, the pickup was red. Anyone know anything about the "groundskeeper"?
You guys make me laugh... Wardy? Increased security? You are giving away your enterances on this site. I heard from some fairly reliable people that cops are checking open forums such as these to gain knowledge of entrances. If you want to keep "urbexing" don't give anything away with out the site being closed to the general public Just Sayin
I think the rectangular building may just have been some sort of office building. It's connected to the tunnel network but when you go inside there isn't much of anything but books and papers, on all levels. You can get on the roof but there isn't really much to it; no patient housing or anything. I think there were some records in there though, there are rooms full of papers. Tr pickup that drove by, was it red?
My friend and I got into Cheney via our entrance that's been there since December. Then we found another entrance that we used to exit the building. We did see two guys walk past Cheney while we were inside, and a pickup drove past about two minutes later. Made it to the roof of Cheney for the first time. Very impressive views!
Anyway, I still haven't been to the north-east corner where the older buildings and the Kirkbride are. I labeled a map: imgur.com which letter best shows the location of the morgue? I know it's on the second story.
Also, what is the rectangular building between Cheney and Snow?
I haven't been up in over a month and I have an almost fool-proof way in as well, however, the last time I went the cops were so darn suspicious, and seemingly everywhere. It's almost as if they can sense a trespasser from miles away. They see a group of youths in the area, it's over; they see kids walking and they're on guard. If you're in your car they'll actually ask you what you're doing and stuff. They were sitting on every entrance of mine and followed me all over the back hills just to see where I was going. It's usually got more watch during the summer months anyway. Sigh. I want in.
So just wondering if anyone's had any troubles here lately. I've had a way in for a long time that's always been full proof and off the radar and as luck would have it we headed over Monday eveningish and went our usual way except this time there was a cop sitting there and there's never EVER! Been cops or anyone here so then out of nowhere comes another cop this one rolled right up on us and followed us all the way out then slowly doubled back THEN! Yet another but this was town cop came flying up on us and then turned off and went behind the home depot nearby where a lot of clueless people try parking and he parked back there. I'm not a paranoid dude but I'm not careless either an have dealt with this in other locations but have never seen it at HRPC just wondering if anyone's heard anything or witnessed anything funny like this going on I mean it almost seems as if someone had to have told them or the hillbilly caretaker about this entry point or could be maybe rumors about Wardy are true and since he hasn't been on here for awhile maybe he's told them all he knows and he does know the place very well idk it's real suspicious tho and WILL NOT!! Keep me outta here cuz it's my favorite local explore. People get caught an they rat.
Just found a 1920 census online. My Great Uncle was listed as being here. He was 22 at the time. He was injured in the war. Would this have been where they would have sent him to treat "shell shock"?
I haven't been up there in like 2weeks because I thought it was going to be knocked down. Anyone been there recently?? Also,I've seen that graffiti there's tons on the roof now,any interesting stories up there lately!?!
Well ONE of us has to buy it! I'll give them $1 for Cheney, I know no one else wants it! www.poughkeepsiejournal.com
Prudential doesn't have a list price, but I'm sure it's just a tad out of my price range! Think the realtor will give a tour to prospective buyers? Haha
Also, graffiti reading "JIZZ" appeared on the upper levels of the south face of Cheney. I actually want to go clean it off and kick the ass of the 15-year-old that did it.
I was able to get into both Ryon Hall and Snow Yesterday. Would love to find someone that is a photographer and has been there as well to go back with... Any Takers?
Went into Ryan Hall And snow today...Would love to go back with another photographer. Anyone game?
Hey guys i see you went up a few days ago,what way did you get onto the grounds without being seen?? was there anyone driving around there?? please let me know on here or email me any info!!!!! boardsld2@aol.com Thanks!!!
I know the ways in to all buildings, and I know where the admin buildings are. Been there past two mondays
was up their a while back and couldnt find a place in to Cheney or Ryon Hall. Even the tunnels where sealed up.Is there any ways in now.better at night or day let me know.thanks
So many people in these buildings today. Saw a few creepy looking people in Cheney. Had a great day though and took amazing pics. Who else was here today? I saw a lot of you.
ive found many tunnel entrances but all welded or covered anyone been there recently that knows definite way in them?
Have been in most buildings but im on hunt for the building referred to as "admin" any help would be appreciated thanks
They are destroying this place I even applied for a job to help just for some $ lol but ya mind as well go nuts cause they plan to blow this place to hell... I mean like booooooooooom!!! Get ur vids in and spend ur last moments and enjoy it cause it's getting fucked up like japan ... It's sad to say but ya it's going bye bye .. They even kicked out the homeless people.. That's how u know they are nat bull shitting us.. Btw shook wasted like 300 dollars in paint lmao sucks to be u man I know u will see this lol ... Ps. BOOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMMM!!!!!!! p.s.s idk who stole the fire system pipes and flooded the basment I hope u get hit bye a train ... I had to walk in that shit and there was a hole in my shoe -_- ... R.I.P H.R.S.H. .... Btw the fire truck for this place is right bye my house it's mad cool .. I hope they keep the kirkbride .. Goodnight evreyone .. Boom!!!
hit me up man ill help you out getting in the kirkbride,&the location of the morgue boardsld2@aol.com
Flawed logic: it's falling apart, why accelerate the rate at which it deteriorates? What exactly does graffiti accomplish? No one understands it and very few people appreciate it.
The building was closed in 2003 because large mental health institutions were becoming obsolete. Anti-depressants, schizophrenia medication, and psychotic episodes became manageable thanks to mainstream drugs made in the 60s and 70s. People could take care of themselves. The property had to be insanely expensive to maintain. Patient counts dwindled and most were moved to the new, smaller facility on 9G, while others were sent down to Rockland County.
Wikipedia says 2003 was the closure date, and I believe it. The newest thing I found in Cheney was a perfectly intact Daily News from February 2001. There is video on YouTube of the power building (it might be Wardy's) and there's a close-up of a Poughkeepsie Journal from 2002, so it certainly wasn't closed in '01. I don't know if the buildings were closed over time or all at once.
I've yet to make it to the Kirkbride, but I found a place on Marist's campus (where I go, I'm from Fishkill) where I can see it. I believe the morgue is in the complex behind it, but if someone could be more specific, that'd be great!
lol awwww someones gonna cry . i dare you to run into me here woman,ill be there friday @@ 9 if you need me. ill even meet you in the morgue. lol hippie.
Your retarded and hopefully you either get caught or fall through one of the floors and get hurt its dumbasses like you that ruin these places for the rest of us, hope i run into you here bro..
Going up tomorrow with 9cans of paint if its getting destroyed might as well ruin it right?? just wound ways into cheney,morgue,church,and school. Hello painting session!!
I don't think HRSH had it's own cemetery. I think patients were buried in community graves or sent back to their families.
i looked through comments can find any information also does anybody have any details on why the buiding that was cleared out in 2001 was in fact closed
Can anyone actually tell me where these occupied buildings&police training buildings are?? Or any other really interesting places on the grounds are?? Any information would be greatly appreciated!! boardsld2@aol.com thanks!
My Dad used to work there in the late 70s, finding outplacement for patients when they were leaving HRSH. As a kid, he and I used to play golf on the course there, and the patients were the caddies. As a kid, always freaked me out.
Anyway, are remnants of the course still there? I remember the first hole was from high on a hill and it was a dogleg right, but you could cut across the dogleg by hitting over (or into) the greenhouses. Whoever put greenhouses on the first hole of a golf course must have been crazy.
Sorry to hear the place is in such disrepair. The architecture was beautiful.
well i know of 1 building being occupied and its by the sand and gravel they put down for the roads in the winter, still has electric and some power tools.. lawn mower, weed wacker ect. but if you venture down the road to the part that was not used anymore for patiants in late 2011, when you see the trailer home in 2 pieces that 1st big brick building near by is used for police training (Blank Bullet Cases Everywhere)...they used Ryon Hall for a while and had signs up saying "Police Trainging Area, Out of Bounds" but they havent since i have been going there for years now......just watch for security if you do venture to the newer unoccupied buildings....I dont really Xplore that part due to running into security and having to jump into prickers.....anyways safe travels everyone
there are no occupied buildings there, and a word of advice for entrence into cheney is pull!!! it will open. the 2nd door on the right
There are no underground secret bases in use in this place,if you believe that your an idiot. Who cares about them painting,they'll never stop so why bother..the only way I'll believe your dumb story of having a secret building still in use,is if I get pictures. Tell your old man friend he's going crazzy.
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