When it opened its doors in 1863, the transallegheny lunatic asylum, renamed the west virginia hospital for the insane, was a model of thomas kirkbrides ideals. Our trip to the trans allegheny lunatic asylum duration. It held the demented, the insane and the unfortunate. Transallegheny lunatic asylum is a mental health facility turned museum that offers. Although this is a short book it was still a good starting point for those who. The hospital was designed to accommodate just 250 patients. Forgotten murder at the transallegheny lunatic asylum. Transallegheny lunatic asylum, weston roadtrippers. The haunted history of the transallegheny lunatic asylum. On the outside, the gothic and tudor revival architecture looks. Transallegheny lunatic asylum, weston, west virginia.
One of the largest handcut stone masonry buildings in the world it now stands as a crumbling monument to both the good intentions of those wishing to help the mentally ill and the inhumanity of others who treated them with boundless ignorance. Jack and katrina recount their experience at transallegheny lunatic asylum in weston, west virginia. In 1986, the state announced plans to convert the weston state hospital into a prison while building a new psychiatric facility elsewhere within the state. It could house 250 patients, each with their own comfortable room. The transallegheny lunatic asylum, located in weston, west virginia, opened in 1864 to house the mentally ill and was forced to close down in 1994. Save on popular hotels near transallegheny lunatic asylum, weston. Explore a historical psychiatric hospital at transallegheny lunatic asylum, which was open from 1864 to 1994.
Thomas kirkbride of philadelphia in his 1854 publication on the subject of the treatment of such individuals. Forgotten murder at the transallegheny lunatic asylum if you follow me on facebook, you might remember that i did an overnight public investigation at the transallegheny lunatic asylum known for years as simply the weston state hospital back in january. Trying to leave the transallegheny lunatic asylum, weston, west virginia duration. Transallegheny lunatic asylum is located in west virginia. The transallegheny lunatic asylum tala in the mountains of weston, west virginia, holds many dark and disturbing stories.
Touring the transallegheny lunatic asylum in weston, west virginia transallegheny lunatic asylum is deemed one of the most haunted hospitals in america. When it opened its doors in 1863, the transallegheny lunatic asylum, renamed the west virginia hospital for the insane, was a model of thomas kirkbrides ideals it could house 250 patients, each with their own comfortable room. Later known as the weston state hospital, the transallegheny lunatic asylum formerly functioned as a prominent psychiatric facility in northern west virginia. Next time youre traveling through weston, wv, make it a point to see the transallegheny lunatic asylum tala. Beyond this, an icepick lobotomy was a commonly practiced. Construction on the building began in 1858, and continued until 1861 when it was interrupted. With aid from the government and private donations, the asylum has undergone plenty of renovations in an attempt to preserve its history. Apr 12, 2018 this is a haunted asylum located in weston, west virginia that gives tours to the public. I was finally able to take the trip to tour her buildings and experience what so.
See more ideas about asylum, west virginia and haunted places. Now a national historic landmark, the imposing main building is one of the largest handcut stone masonry buildings in the world. Need information on historic tours, please click here. The transallegheny lunatic asylum opened its doors in 1864, just after west virginia achieved statehood and just before the end of the civil war, but construction continued for almost two decades more until the building was complete. Theres tons of abandoned asylums dotted throughout the usa remnants of a time when mental health was still something misunderstood by medical professionals, and where many of the treatments were truly barbaric. In 1990, transallegheny lunatic asylum was designated as a national historic landmark, but by that point the building was in bad shape.
Find cheap deals and discount rates among them that best fit your budget. Transallegheny lunatic asylum west virginia ghosts. Purportedly one of west virginias most haunted sites, the trans allegheny lunatic asylum opened its doors in 1864. Transallegheny lunatic asylum this west virginia state facility served as a sanctuary for the mentally ill from the 1860s to the 1990s. The trans allegheny lunatic asylum, subsequently the weston state hospital, was a kirkbride psychiatric hospital that was operated from 1864 until 1994 by the government of the u. However, those plans fell through and the william r. Best haunted destination winners 2019 usa today 10best. This national historic landmark served as a sanctuary for the mentally ill beginning in the mid1800s. Thomas story kirkbride was born to a family of quaker farmers on july 31st. Originally designed to service just 250 patients, overcrowding took over and poor conditions flourished.
The building itself, perched on a river across from downtown weston, wv, was originally called the transallegheny lunatic asylum. This haunted gothic structure was the end of the line for west virginias insane for 150 years. The transallegheny lunatic asylum in weston, west virginia opened its doors to patients in 1864. This century old building is now the site of many community activities and. Transallegheny lunatic asylum operated from 1864 to 1994 today it stands as a testimony to the inhumane practices once used in mental health. Transallegheny lunatic asylum, weston, west virginia once known as the weston state hospital, the transallegheny lunatic asylum in weston, west virginia opened its doors to patients in 1864. Earlier this year i had the opportunity to tour around one of west virginias most haunted buildings. Construction on the transallegheny lunatic asylum begun in 1858 and was completed in 1881. Thomas story kirkbride transallegheny lunatic asylum. Touring the transallegheny lunatic asylum in weston, west. Just the history alone and walking through the halls was worth the trip. Browse expedias selection of 41 hotels and places to stay closest to transallegheny lunatic asylum. In the early 1850s, a new hospital called the transallegheny lunatic asylum was authorized to be constructed by the virginia general assembly before west virginia became a separate state.
The main building was to be based off the kirkbride plan, using gothic and tudor. Lunatic by edward gleason transallegheny lunatic asylum. The haunted history of the trans allegheny lunatic asylum. This notoriously haunted hospital housed thousands of mentally ill patients over a. Once it was a house of horrors with severe overcrowding, inhumane conditions, and rampant violence. Transallegheny lunatic asylum, previously known as the weston state hospital, or the west virginia hospital for the insane would be intimidating even without the ghosts. The history of the building includes civil war tales, a gold robbery, the curative effects of architecture, and the efforts of determined individuals to. This book is my own meager attempt to outline some of the asylum s darker history. The ghosts of the transallegheny lunatic asylum real. A brief history of the transallegheny lunatic asylum. Find hotels near transallegheny lunatic asylum, weston.
The horrifying history of the transallegheny lunatic asylum. Built in the 1860s to house 250, the asylum in weston was overcrowded with. Trans allegheny lunatic asylum west virginia mountain mama. I hope you enjoy the haunted history of the trans allegheny lunatic asylum.
Every easter we try to spend at least part of our day at one of north central west virginia most interesting places, the trans allegheny lunatic asylum a. I have included various paranormal evidence and input from past paranormal investigators who dared to spend the night walking the dark hallways of the asylum. See more ideas about asylum, west virginia and abandoned asylums. The transallegheny lunatic asylum which is also known as the armand auclerc weston state hospital was built under the standards of. In the early 1900s it changed its name to weston state hospital. This book is my own meager attempt to outline some of the asylums darker history. Transallegheny lunatic asylum weston, wv the art of. Today the building is said to be extremely haunted. Later known as the weston state hospital, tala was a kirkbride psychiatric hospital, constructed from 18581881 and in operation from 1864 until 1994. Skilled stonemasons had been brought in from germany and ireland to contribute to the architecture that featured wide open windows, giving patients access to. Located in weston, wv this national historic landmark offers historic and ghost tours, and overnight ghost hunts throughout the year. Open from 1864 to 1994, the transallegheny lunatic asylum, also known as the weston state hospital, saw the beginnings of modern psychiatry, the institutionalization of thousands of patients, and was finally forced to closed when the treatment of mental illness started changing and the facilities of the hospital were no longer considered adequate for patients. Visit transallegheny lunatic asylum on your trip to weston. Transallegheny lunatic asylum and the haunting enigma of.
Built in the 1860s to house 250, the asylum in weston west virginia was overcrowded with 2,400. After west virginia seceded from virginia in the midst of the civil war, it was renamed the west virginia hospital for the insane. Built in the 1860s to house 250, the asylum in weston was overcrowded welcome to the 19th century asylum located in weston, west virginia. Following consultations with thomas story kirkbride, thensuperintendent of the pennsylvania hospital for. Transallegheny lunatic asylum weston all you need to. As i entered weston, i proceeded to 71 asylum drive and it took only a glance at the building to realize i was in for an incredible experience. Welcome to the trans allegheny lunatic asylum aka the weston state hospital located in historic weston, west virginia. Using the findings of doctor thomas kirkbride and the wishes of dorothea dix as the foundation for the structure, the hospital was meant to hold a mere twohundred and fifty patients. Haunted history of the transallegheny lunatic asylum.
It has a welldeserved reputation for being a creepy place with a haunted history. The virginia general assembly authorized the construction of the transallegheny lunatic asylum in 1858. Transallegheny lunatic asylum weston, west virginia. This 160 year old asylum holds fascinating stories of civil war raids, a gold robbery, the curative effects of. The transallegheny lunatic asylum, subsequently the weston state hospital, was a kirkbride.
The transallegheny lunatic asylum in west virginia is steeped in history and intrigue. Transallegheny lunatic asylum in weston, wv was one of those facilities. Previously named the weston state hospital, the tala was a psychiatric hospital that operated from 1864 until 1994 by the state of west virginia. Good read on weston asylum and on some of wvs history in providing early. The haunted history of the west virginia penitentiary. Its monumental main structure, the largest handcut stone masonry building in north america, divides 242,000 square feet over four floors, is a staggering 1,296 ft long, and. The transallegheny lunatic asylum, constructed between 1858 and 1881, is the largest handcut blue sandstone building in the western hemisphere. Weston state hospital got its name in 19 which was used while patients occupied it, but was changed back to its originally commissioned, unused name, the trans allegheny lunatic asylum, after being reopened as a tourist attraction. The haunted history of the trans allegheny lunatic asylum brake, sherri on. Some of the reasons that people would be admitted to the weston asylum. Transallegheny lunatic asylum 71 asylum drive weston, wv.