If you are looking for a spooky adventure, you might want to visit the Arizona State Hospital in Phoenix. This hospital has a long and dark history of treating patients with mental illnesses, tuberculosis, and other diseases. Some of the buildings on the hospital grounds are abandoned and haunted by the ghosts of former patients and staff.
The History of the Hospital
The Arizona State Hospital was established in 1887 as the Territorial Asylum for the Insane. It was the first and only psychiatric hospital in the Arizona Territory. The hospital was built on a 160-acre plot of land donated by a local farmer. The original building had a capacity of 50 patients, but soon became overcrowded and understaffed.
The hospital expanded over the years, adding more buildings and facilities. However, the conditions of the hospital did not improve much. The patients were often subjected to harsh and inhumane treatments, such as electroshock therapy, lobotomy, and isolation. Many patients died from disease, neglect, or suicide. Some of the bodies were buried in unmarked graves on the hospital grounds.
The hospital also served as a tuberculosis sanatorium, a prison hospital, and a forensic psychiatric unit. Some of the most notorious criminals in Arizona history were treated or incarcerated at the hospital, such as John Dillinger, Winnie Ruth Judd, and Ernesto Miranda.
The Hauntings of the Hospital
The hospital is said to be haunted by the restless spirits of the patients and staff who died there. Some of the most haunted buildings are the Cottage 13, the Geriatric Building, and the Cemetery.
Cottage 13 was a ward for female patients who suffered from severe mental illnesses. The building is now abandoned and boarded up, but some people have reported hearing screams, moans, and laughter coming from inside. Some have also seen the apparition of a woman in a white dress roaming the hallways.
The Geriatric Building was a ward for elderly patients who had dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. The building is also abandoned and dilapidated, but some people have reported smelling rotten flesh, hearing footsteps, and feeling cold spots. Some have also seen the shadowy figures of old men and women wandering the rooms.
The Cemetery is where some of the patients and staff were buried in unmarked graves. The cemetery is located behind a fence and a sign that reads “No Trespassing”. Some people have reported seeing orbs, mists, and flashes of light in the cemetery. Some have also heard voices, whispers, and cries coming from the graves.
The Conclusion
The Arizona State Hospital is a place that holds a lot of history and mystery. It is a place that witnessed the suffering and death of many people who were mistreated and forgotten by society. It is a place that is haunted by the ghosts of the past who are still looking for peace and justice. It is a place that is not for the faint of heart, but for the brave and curious who want to explore the creepiest hospital in the entire state.