Top 10 Asylums in the World Every Urban Explorer Should Visit
Asylums are often associated with horror and terror, but these abandoned buildings hold a fascinating history that can be explored through urban exploration. Here are the top 10 asylums in the world that every urban explorer should visit.
1. Danvers State Hospital – Massachusetts, USA
Danvers State Hospital was built in 1874 to treat patients with mental illnesses. The hospital’s architecture is striking, featuring a gothic style complete with towers and turrets. It operated for over a century before being closed down in 1992 due to overcrowding and patient neglect. Today, it is an iconic location for urban explorers.
2. Willard Asylum – New York, USA
Willard Asylum opened in 1869 and housed thousands of patients suffering from various mental illnesses until its closure in 1995. It is known for its extensive collection of suitcases left behind by former patients when they passed away or were discharged.
3. Whittingham Asylum – Lancashire, UK
Whittingham Asylum was once one of the largest asylums in Europe, accommodating up to 3,500 patients at its peak during the mid-20th century. It was known for its innovative treatments such as occupational therapy and hydrotherapy but eventually closed down due to funding cuts.
4. Hellingly Hospital – East Sussex, UK
Hellingly Hospital opened in 1903 as an asylum for those suffering from mental illness or learning disabilities but closed down nearly a century later due to budget constraints on healthcare services across Britain’s National Health Service (NHS). The building has since been demolished except for a few remaining structures which make it popular among urban explorers.
5. Lier Psychiatric Hospital – Norway
Lier Psychiatric Hospital was built-in1886 outside Oslo city center and received mentally ill people from throughout southeastern Norway until it closed down permanently on September 15th after more than 130 years of operation. The hospital was known for its use of hydrotherapy and electroshock therapy as treatments for mental illness, which were considered to be innovative at the time.
6. Beelitz-Heilstätten Sanatorium – Germany
Beelitz-Heilstätten Sanatorium was built-in1898 in the town of Beelitz, 17 miles southwest of Berlin. It served as a military hospital during World War I and grew to encompass over 60 buildings before being closed down in 2000 when it became too expensive for maintenance.
7. Traverse City State Hospital – Michigan, USA
Traverse City State Hospital opened in 1885 and housed patients with mental illnesses until it closed down in 1989 due to budget cuts on healthcare services across Michigan’s public health system. It is now used as a community center and hosts events such as haunted house tours annually around Halloween.
8. St Joseph’s Psychiatric Hospital – Cork, Ireland
St Joseph’s Psychiatric Hospital opened in the late nineteenth century outside Cork city center but had a tumultuous history throughout its existence having been burned down twice during its lifetime! The building has since been abandoned without any record or documentation about why this happened making it an intriguing location for urban explorers.
9. Byberry Mental Asylum – Pennsylvania, USA
Byberry Mental Asylum was operational from 1907 until the mid-1980s when funding cuts forced its closure. Situated near Philadelphia, it became notorious for patient abuse and neglect by staff leading to numerous lawsuits against them by former patients during their tenure at the facility.
10. Severalls Hospital – Essex, UK
Severalls Hospital was built-in1913 outside Colchester city center as one of four psychiatric hospitals serving London at that time before closing down permanently on March 31st after more than eighty years since first opening its doors!. The building is now abandoned and offers urban explorers a glimpse into the history of mental health treatment in Britain.
In conclusion, asylums may have a dark past but they offer an insight into the history of mental health care. Visiting these sites allows us to learn about the treatments used over time and see how far we have come in our understanding of mental illness. If you are interested in exploring these locations, make sure to do your research and always prioritize safety when venturing inside these abandoned buildings.