Harrisburg State Hospital

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HSH Admin (May 2007)

Cupola on building #32 (May 2007)

Harrisburg State Hospital in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Dauphin County, on Cameron and McClay Streets, was Pennsylvania’s first public facility to house the mentally ill and disabled.

Architect(s): John Haviland / Addison Hutton

Location: Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Date: 1851 / 1935

Building Type: Health Care

Construction System: Sandstone, Brick, Stone, Sandstone, Iron

Building Style: Classical Revival

1 History
2 Hospital and campus layout
3 Closure of the hospital
4 FAQs
5 Historical images
6 See also
7 Notes

[edit] History

Legislation passed in 1845 to establish the hospital and it was opened as the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital, admitting its first patient, in 1851. This was a result of the successful lobbying efforts of 19th century social reformer, Dorothea Dix. The hospital was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1986.^[1] During it's prime the hospital consumed over 1000 acres and included more than 70 buildings, the hospital had its own farms, power plant, and stores. It became known as the "City on the hill". Before the current campus and buildings were built, there was a Kirkbride Plan hospital built on the grounds. But it was torn down for the less "prison" feeling cottage plan hospital that you see today.

[edit] Hospital and campus layout

The hospital currently sits on a two hundred acre campus with stately buildings in a country setting, in Dauphin County, with a majority of its campus in Susquehanna Township. There are over fifty buildings still located on the campus. The former hospital facility is now managed by Pennsylvania's Department of General Services and provides office space for many state agencies.

[edit] Closure of the hospital

Harrisburg State Hospital closed it doors on January 27, 2006. The facility provided over 150 years of service to Pennsylvania's mentally ill. It now serves as office space for several state government offices. The vacant buildings are still maintained in the event that the hospital needs to be re-opened for emergency purposes.

[edit] FAQs

Harrisburg State Hospital was used for the hospital setting in the film, Girl, Interrupted.The film was shot at various locations in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Harrisburg State Hospital settings were meant to resemble those of the grounds of McLean Hospital in Massachusetts.^[2]

The 'Administration' signs hanging in the car port in front of the admin building are not original to the hospital. They were created for the movie and the hospital staff left them up after the shooting was complete.