Washington is home to both beautiful landscapes and strange, frightening places, thanks to its many natural beauties. One of them is an abandoned prison that used to hold some of the most dangerous and infamous criminals in the state.
This abandoned building, which is now a ghostly ruin, is filled with the spirits of its tragic history. The Northern State Hospital is one of the most haunted places in Washington, and this is the terrifying story of the hospital.
Discovering the Past of the Northern State Hospital
The Northern State Hospital was built in 1912 in Sedro-Woolley, a tiny town in Skagit County, Washington. It was intended to be a state-of-the-art facility for the treatment of mental disease.
The facility, which has a capacity for 2,000 patients, covers more than 700 acres and includes a working farm where people grow their food. The hospital had a library, theater, gymnasium, and cemetery, in addition to its progressive approach.
The facility was praised at first for its compassionate mental health treatment techniques, but it soon fell victim to overpopulation and a lack of staff. Patients were neglected, abused, and even subjected to experiments as conditions worsened. Sadly, many people died from infections, hunger, or suicide, and their graves are unmarked. The hospital became a place of terror, where the hallways echoed with the cries of patients in pain.
The hospital was on the verge of closing in 1973 due to scandals and legal disputes that revealed its wrongdoings. The buildings were abandoned and fell into disrepair, becoming a ghost town haunted by the spirits of the tortured souls who previously lived there.
Investigating the Characteristics of the Northern State Hospital
The Northern State Hospital covers an area of 225 acres and consists of more than 40 buildings, some of which are still intact while others are in ruins. These structures are connected by a network of tunnels that were previously used to transport patients and supplies. These buildings contain vestiges of the past, such as furniture, records, and personal belongings.
The following are examples of key structures:
- The Administration Building: The main center has a grand staircase, a fireplace, a stained glass window, offices, a reception room, and a chapel.
- The Ward Buildings: Living quarters including dormitories, restrooms, common spaces, and isolation cells for disruptive patients.
- The Medical Building: The location for treatment and experimentation, which has operating rooms, labs, pharmacies, morgues, and equipment for electroshock therapy, lobotomy, and sterilization.
- Farm buildings are necessary for food and revenue. They include barns, silos, stables, slaughterhouses, fields, orchards, and gardens.
- The Cemetery: The ultimate resting place, which contains approximately 1,500 graves, most of which are unmarked, as well as a crematorium for patients who are unidentified or unwelcome.
Thinking About What Will Happen to the Northern State Hospital
The Northern State Hospital is a historical and haunted site that deserves to be preserved and respected. It is not only a serious reminder of the difficult history of mental health care, but it also has the potential to be a source of education and inspiration. Visitors can explore the past, admire the present, and imagine the future. The site is open to a limited number of visitors and guided tours, and it attracts paranormal investigators who say they have experienced a variety of phenomena there.
If you are interested in the Northern State Hospital or would like to assist, you may find more information on its website, Northern State Ghost Town.
This place is more than just a prison; it is a complicated combination of a hospital, a farm, and a cemetery. It is a site that leaves a lasting impression on the memories of anybody who visits, a place that is a witness to both tragedy and beauty, life and death.
This Abandoned Prison is One of the Creepiest Places in Washington
