Utica Lunatic Asylum
It’s called the “Old Main” and I did a huge post on it’s history, it’s most famous patient, and some stunning interior photos, in January. Today, the kids and I were visiting the Children’s Museum in downtown Utica (more on that later), and took a drive to York Street to see the Old Main.
The columns to the building are utterly tremendous. Who needs to see the Parthenon when you’ve got this? Their size is awesome. This building is famous for being the finest example of Greek Revival architecture in the world.
We went around the side of the building. The entire building is fenced in (with barbed wire on top!) and “DANGER: Hazardous Materials!” screamed at us. It was amazing that, for a building in the heart of a decaying city, the building is untouched by vandals.
From what I’ve read, there is an archives office on the first floor of the building… somewhere. I saw no way to access the building at all. On the campus, there are numerous other small buildings. These belong to the Mohawk Valley Psychiatric Center.
If you are interested in reading more about the history of the Asylum, or viewing great photos of the interior, see this post.
That architecture is truly impressive. It’s too bad that it has fallen into disrepair. I read your earlier post, and the “Utica Crib” gave me chills. Do you think the building could be a little bit haunted?
Believe it or not, many of the afflicted people who used the Utica Crib preferred it. They said it kept them from harming themselves and others, and so they felt safer. Pretty heart-wrenching, isn’t it?
Yes, the asylum is haunted. All of Utica is. Haunted with the specter of better days- once prosperous, but more importantly, once virtuous. It’s not too late for Utica, though. She could rise out the ashes like the phoenix, if she took to heart what George Washington once said, “Happy is the nation whose God is the Lord!”
my name is dawn and in 1966 i was at a school on marcy state hospital growns { called Crane hill school}
i have been looking for information on past historie for my book, please get back to me on this Matter
thank u dawn
That is haunted no doubt! Those are some neat pictures, imagine visiting a place like that at night!
I can’t believe they used such an intricate architecture to build a mental hospital… that thing should be a museum or something.
Cool post!