Independence State Hospital
Encyclopedia
The Independence State Hospital was built in 1873 as the second asylum
in the state of Iowa
. It is located in Independence, Iowa
. The original plan for patients was to relieve crowding from the hospital
at Mount Pleasant
and to hold alcoholics, geriactrics, drug addicts, mentally ill, and the criminally insane. It was built under the Kirkbride Plan
. The hospital's many names include: The Independence Lunatic Asylum, The Independence State Asylum, The Independence Asylum for the Insane, The Iowa State Hospital for the Insane, and The Independence Mental Health Institute. There is also a labyrinth of underground tunnels which connect every building. Like most asylums of its time, it has had a gruesome and dark history. Remnants of this are the graveyard, hydrotherapy tubs, and lobotomy equipment.
. Realizing that the need for another asylum
in the state of Iowa
was growing at a surprising rate, the state commission quickly rallied for another hospital to be built at the city of Independence, Iowa
. Construction began for the hospital in 1873 at a cost of $845,000, however, it took ten years util it opened in 1883. The architect
was Stephen Vaughn Shipman who also designed the mental institution in Elgin, Illinois
, Anna, Illinois
, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
and Mendota, Wisconsin
. Like the Clarinda State Hospital
, and the Cherokee State Hospital
, changes have been made to the building, but the building looks much like it did in early photographs and postcards
. The Independence State Hospital is now known as The Independence Mental Health Institute. It continues to serve as a psychiatric hospital with a drug
and alcohol
rehabilitation program as well as a training school for nurses. Although some areas of the Kirkbride are now unused, the building has been kept in good shape and has recently undergone some renovations. There is a museum in the hospital which contains relics from its older years. Tours of the institution are open to the public by appointment.
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
. It is located in Independence, Iowa
Independence, Iowa
Independence is a city in and the county seat of Buchanan County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,966 in the 2010 census, a decline from 6,014 in the 2000 census...
. The original plan for patients was to relieve crowding from the hospital
Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute
The Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute was a psychiatric institution located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Originally known as the Iowa Lunatic Asylum, opened in 1861. It is located on the same campus as The Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility. There was also a labyrinth of underground tunnels...
at Mount Pleasant
Mount Pleasant, Iowa
Mount Pleasant is a city in and the county seat of Henry County, Iowa, in the United States. The population was 8,668 in the 2010 census, a decline from 8,751 in the 2000 census. It was founded in 1835 by pioneer Presley Saunders.- History :...
and to hold alcoholics, geriactrics, drug addicts, mentally ill, and the criminally insane. It was built under the Kirkbride Plan
Kirkbride Plan
The Kirkbride Plan refers to a system of mental asylum design advocated by Philadelphia psychiatrist Thomas Story Kirkbride in the mid-19th century.-History:The establishment of state mental hospitals in the U.S...
. The hospital's many names include: The Independence Lunatic Asylum, The Independence State Asylum, The Independence Asylum for the Insane, The Iowa State Hospital for the Insane, and The Independence Mental Health Institute. There is also a labyrinth of underground tunnels which connect every building. Like most asylums of its time, it has had a gruesome and dark history. Remnants of this are the graveyard, hydrotherapy tubs, and lobotomy equipment.
History and Present State
Overcrowding was quickly becoming a problem at the Mount Pleasant State HospitalMount Pleasant Mental Health Institute
The Mount Pleasant Mental Health Institute was a psychiatric institution located in Mount Pleasant, Iowa. Originally known as the Iowa Lunatic Asylum, opened in 1861. It is located on the same campus as The Mount Pleasant Correctional Facility. There was also a labyrinth of underground tunnels...
. Realizing that the need for another asylum
Psychiatric hospital
Psychiatric hospitals, also known as mental hospitals, are hospitals specializing in the treatment of serious mental disorders. Psychiatric hospitals vary widely in their size and grading. Some hospitals may specialise only in short-term or outpatient therapy for low-risk patients...
in the state of Iowa
Iowa
Iowa is a state located in the Midwestern United States, an area often referred to as the "American Heartland". It derives its name from the Ioway people, one of the many American Indian tribes that occupied the state at the time of European exploration. Iowa was a part of the French colony of New...
was growing at a surprising rate, the state commission quickly rallied for another hospital to be built at the city of Independence, Iowa
Independence, Iowa
Independence is a city in and the county seat of Buchanan County, Iowa, United States. The population was 5,966 in the 2010 census, a decline from 6,014 in the 2000 census...
. Construction began for the hospital in 1873 at a cost of $845,000, however, it took ten years util it opened in 1883. The architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
was Stephen Vaughn Shipman who also designed the mental institution in Elgin, Illinois
Elgin, Illinois
Elgin is a city in northern Illinois located roughly northwest of Chicago on the Fox River. Most of Elgin lies within Kane County, Illinois, with a portion in Cook County, Illinois...
, Anna, Illinois
Anna, Illinois
Anna is a city in Union County, Illinois, United States. Located in Southern Illinois, the population was 5,136 at the 2000 census. The city is known for being tied to its close neighbor Jonesboro, together known as Anna-Jonesboro. Anna is well renowned for the Anna State Mental Hospital or the...
, Oshkosh, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
and Mendota, Wisconsin
Wisconsin
Wisconsin is a U.S. state located in the north-central United States and is part of the Midwest. It is bordered by Minnesota to the west, Iowa to the southwest, Illinois to the south, Lake Michigan to the east, Michigan to the northeast, and Lake Superior to the north. Wisconsin's capital is...
. Like the Clarinda State Hospital
Clarinda Treatment Complex
The Clarinda Treatment Complex was built in 1884 as the Clarinda State Hospital in Clarinda, Iowa in southwest Iowa. It was the third asylum in the state of Iowa and remains in operation today. The hospital's many name variations include: The Clarinda Lunatic Asylum, The Clarinda State Asylum, The...
, and the Cherokee State Hospital
Cherokee Mental Health Institute
The Cherokee Mental Health Institute is a state-run psychiatric facility in Cherokee, Iowa. It has operated from 1902 until the present day, currently under the authority of the Iowa Department of Human Services.-Early years:...
, changes have been made to the building, but the building looks much like it did in early photographs and postcards
Postcards
Postcards may mean:* The plural of postcard* Postcards , an Australian magazine television series* Postcards , a novel by E...
. The Independence State Hospital is now known as The Independence Mental Health Institute. It continues to serve as a psychiatric hospital with a drug
DRUGS
Destroy Rebuild Until God Shows are an American post-hardcore band formed in 2010. They released their debut self-titled album on February 22, 2011.- Formation :...
and alcohol
Alcohol
In chemistry, an alcohol is an organic compound in which the hydroxy functional group is bound to a carbon atom. In particular, this carbon center should be saturated, having single bonds to three other atoms....
rehabilitation program as well as a training school for nurses. Although some areas of the Kirkbride are now unused, the building has been kept in good shape and has recently undergone some renovations. There is a museum in the hospital which contains relics from its older years. Tours of the institution are open to the public by appointment.