Traverse City, MI/State Asylum

Traverse City, MI is famous for its National Cherry Festival, however there is so much more to this midwestern town than you might believe. The traverse City State Asylum closed many years ago and the buildings on the property remain. Many are being remodeled and some still have their 50's charm and wear. The buildings are so extraordinary and are a great photo opp for any traveller/photographer.

Photograph 1
Building 50

Photograph 2
front view of building 50

Photograph 3
another look at building 50

Photograph 4
building 50

Photograph 5
back of building 50

article published 6/23/2002

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this place is amazing. i'd love to get a guided tour if anyone knows somebody or can do it. i'm currently deployed to iraq and its going to be acouple months before im home. but id love to heasr from someone if they have any information.
— krista, November 16, 2009

Children On Hall-18
Many answers to your questions about Traverse City State Hospital can be found at http://www.kirkbridebuildings.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=38&t=1407 This is about the forgotten children who was on hall-18 in the 1960's
— Ronny, July 18, 2009

I had a family member that was here and everything seems to be such a secret, Why? I am interested in learning more. Where do you suggest I go? Some of these medical conditions can be passed through generations. For the future please help me.
— Karen Ramsey, April 30, 2009

Patients there
I am looking for information on a patient that would have been admitted when she was about 13 until? I was born in 1971, my mother was a patient at the State Hosiptal during one of her escapes to KY she was expecting me. I was told she was in the foster care system with her brothers and sisters and then put into the Asylum when she was deemed to "difficult" to manage. Any information would be great. I was taken by Social services after birth, although she had visited me several times until the 3rd day. Thanks! my email address is listed.
— Wolffox, April 22, 2009

Medical Records?
My family has recently found out that we had a relative living there in the 1930s. She was never spoken of and we had no idea that she existed. I would like to know how to find patient records so we can find her. We have found birth records, but no death records. Can anyone help?
— Ashley, March 29, 2009

Escapee
My great grandmother worked here for several years back in the 1940s and 50s. Eventually her common law husband ended up in there, in seclusion because well... he was nuts. She was no longer working there when he went in but was still able to convince them to lift the restrictions so he had a little freedom. She had divorced him while he was in there, and just after a year, they released him to goto a dance with everybody in one of the cottages and he split. They never found him. Id like to know where the records are, because my grandmother has no birth/death information on him, and noone knows where he went after he escaped.

I havent been there ever, but i think this summer ill be making a trip to see the grounds. I also heard they have a memorial to a cow. Strange.
— Mary, March 27, 2009

Father-Patient
After serving his country in the Battlefield~Jungles of Vietnam. My Father had the destinct pleasure of being a patient at this wonderfull place,in which they called the asylum for the insane. Funny how times have changed, today we have couseling and medications. In the '60s vets were trying to blend in with society and one night gets into a drunken brawl at a bowling alley with a bunch of idiots calling him a baby killer. Sentence: Northern Michigan aslyum for the insane. Don't figure !!
— Proud Son, February 3, 2009

Anyone recognize these fromt the past?
Dr.Lambert, Dr. Miller,Dr Chapin, Dr.Mrs.Andrews,Dr.Crosby, Mrs Hartnett, Dr.Everett,Dr.Smith,Dr.Bender,Dr.Olsen, Dr.Harlow,Earl Steele, Mrs. llse Adler-social worker.
— WarTorn, January 27, 2009

Doctors kid (Mathew)
So i guess the one previous question was answered by you, they did do labotomys there along with electric shock. If you were there in the 70's visiting and playing games with the male patients, then you had to of come across my cousin, Danny, he was there during the 70's until they closed in the 80's. He was mentally ill, not retarded, almost normal, but not healthy enough to be on the outside, had outrage occurances, and from what i remember from him while i was a kid, the he always thought of himself as a superhero....the one thing you would remember him by, is didnt like shoes or socks, always barefoot, and he walked on his toes , not liking his heels to touch the floor, tall with dark hair, if you remember him let me know....ric_walt@yahoo.com
— Richard, January 26, 2009

Patient, Staff, or Doctor Questions
Does anyone know if lobotomys were ever done here? electric shock therapy? Was patients with mental illness,such as depressions, anxietys, or just chemical imbalances, mixed in the other types of mentally ill, such as retardness, pyschotic illness,dilusional types. or were certain illnesses seperated by floors,wings,halls,etc.? Also, were there any types of typhoid cases kept here where they were secluded in cage type rooms away from others? I have found in my findings and search of information on my relatives, that once a patient was admitted here,or any mental institution for that matter, that it was almost impossible to get out, even if you got better or showed signs of no mental illness whatsoever. anyone want to elaborate more on this?
— bart, January 26, 2009

Medical Records & Questions
I have had relatives that were patient there, and have checked into finding information, patient logs, or records. You have to go to the michigan.gov archives, then call there, they will give you a number that has the records for traverse city. Nurse 03, i would like to know if you worked in the male or female ward during your time, you may of come across my 2 relatives, they were both there during that time. would love to chat with you sometime. I too have heard haunting stories of this place.
— Bart, January 26, 2009

Traverse City State Hospital (AWFUL)
Most of the girls weren't wanted, were sexually or physically abused, runaways, done drugs, been raped, etc. One's father used her as a guinea pig before giving his patients new drugs. A 5 year old was there who's parents locked her in a closet her whole life. I spent my 16th birthday there. The first day a girl put her fist thru the chicken wired windows until several male attendants held her down, gave a shot and threw her in seclusion. Several other girls were lined up facing the wall. They'd send us to Hall 5 (in Bldg 50) when our seclusion rooms were full. They had striped seclusion there. One woman there sat naked in the fetal position all day. I spent 2 weeks in seclusion with nothing but a shower mat to sleep/sit on. I'm now in my 50's and will never forget that place. It was a nightmare except two nice nurses, Mom Olds and Ms. Thayer. I also made friends I wish I could find. Feel free to ask questions.
— A Nelson, January 16, 2009

TC St Hosp./ Doctor's Kid
Dear Doctor's Kid,

I used to live in TC from 1971 to 1984. What was your father's name? I used to know a couple of the doctors that worked at the Hospital. One of them used to be my chess partner for a couple of years.

I just cisited the TC area after 24 years of being away. I didn't get an opportunity to go into building 50 to see what they've done to it, but I do remember going there in the mid 70's. It's nice to see that they've decided to restore the buildings. Some of them are really spooky. I also remember riding my bike on the grounds around the building and hearing the crys and the yelling of the children at the children's ward. Very disheartening.

Rob
— Robert, October 20, 2008

state hospital
the weekend of july 11 2008 to the 13th, my sister and i who are currently writing a ghost book went to the state asylum. the doors are open since many businesses are now inside so we went around 7 pm. we took a video camera, a camera and voice recorder. the main building did not give us much but one scream on the recorder, but the buliding right behind building 50 next to stellas which is a white house looking buliding with a cage over the windows was something that made even me very nervous. we got a picture with about 8 orbs in it just from the outside, a picture with a face and some voices. my two year old daughter who was with us randomly got scared and started screaming. she is half loatian and can speak some lao, one word we did not teach her is scared but she began screaming it. i definetly believe that the state hospital is haunted. we will be going back there soon if anyone would like some pictures or recordings feel free to contact me.
— kathryn, July 15, 2008

Doctors Kid
Yes, yes it is. After 100 yrs of progressing mental health practices the souls of hundreds of tortured and twisted souls cry out from the multiple dimensions of the lives they lead. See the rusted leaded paint on the bars and grates that kept their demons in and the cherry blossoms of the beautiful selfs that so wanted to be part of this world. Folks rightly and wrongly institutionalized and subjected to the ward medications and the operations for nearly 100 years. Go visit during the day and walk the yards. Sneak back at night and see if you are welcomed back by the same aura.
— Matthew, April 24, 2008

I need to know if the hospital is actually haunted.
— SpeCiAl JoE, April 15, 2008

Doctors Kid
My dad worked there as a psychiatrist from 1972 to 1980. I remember being shown the old electroshock equipment, leather bite strap, and surgical lobotomy equipment. It always scared me walking up to the building because they had the 'howlers' shouting out from the top floors. We volunteered at break times and played domino's and such with the patients. Every here and again one would wander in naked and the staff would attend to them. We went to every strawberry social and attended church on the grounds with Father Fred. It humbles you as a person to have expeienced this place. The patients used to crowd around me and thank me for my father's help. My dad always said Thank God you were born happy and healthy and give thanks back. Visit the grounds and walk the paths, it is a beautiful place.
— Matthew, April 11, 2008

attendant nurse 03
I worked hall 18 back in the 60s and have fond memories of this place and some stories that wound make u cry.
— thomas bradley, January 24, 2008

hi
i'm really intrested in the state hospital, i have been intrested in it for about 3 years people say that it is haunted and i always wanted to see if it was.
— cassadi, September 9, 2007

My daughter and I are very much interested in the T.C. State Hospital, especially building 50. My grandfather died there, we would very much like to go thru building 50 if possible. My daughter is a nurse and I am a nurse tech. We want to know what happened to all the medical records after it closed. Does anyone know?? Can we tour this building?? Contact me at dek00funny@yahoo.com thanks for the pictures!
— Jamie Gordon, July 17, 2007

The old buildings really are spectacular. The renovation is regulated by historic tax laws, so the integrity of "the way it was" is preserved. Check out what they're doing http://www.thevillagetc.com
— susannah, April 3, 2007

this is what trips me out there now make appartments and restraunts out of the some of buildings, i don't think i would wanna eat or live there and i also think it sad and dis-respectful to all the ppl that died there. i think "they" should have just left it the way it was and made tours that run thru the buildings and so on. cuz think bout it when they'er done doing this there will be nothing left to see cuz of all the restraunts and appartments it will lose it's "wow" ans sooner or later just be another old builing :(
— nikki, August 18, 2006

writer
(TRAVERSE CITY STATE HOSPITAL) THE FEELING WHEN I VISITED IN 2000 ! AGED IN THE SUN , HANDED THE TEARS OF SADNESS, THOUSAND'S PASSED THROUGH THE HALL'S , BOUND TO WALK IN THE DIM LIT EMPTYNESS , THE MOON SHONE THROUGH CRACKED PANES OF GLASS , LEAVING DANCING SHADOWS ON THE WALLS , TO BE COUNTED LIKE SHEEP IN THE MEADOW .
— gregory jay, July 30, 2006

We visited
my psychology class visited the Traverse City State hospital on Nov. 11, 2004. We were given a guided tour by Heidi Johnson, the author of "Angels in the architecture." The building is so beautiful inside...its hard to believe what it was used for back in the day. It was amazing...Building 50 is awesome..
— April, November 13, 2004

Secretary
I think Traverse City could make alot of money if they fixed up these old buildings and gave tours and information to people about how life was in the State Hospital.
— Michelle, December 15, 2003

Secretary
I visited the groungs of this asylum just this week of October 31 st. 2003 and it was amazing. We were able to get into one of the buildings where the nine windows room is. The feeling of being in the building almost made my heart come out of my Chest.
— Michelle, November 4, 2003

They let all of the insane people roam the city when they closed.
— Shane Powell, July 5, 2003

wonderful
it is wonderful. it's so hard to belive it's photograph.
— grace(footballprinc49@hotmail.com), July 2, 2002