Hudson River State Hospital stands tall as the third state-run mental hospital in New York, preceded by Utica Psychiatric Center and Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane. Built in Poughkeepsie, New York, the hospital's location on the Hudson River was carefully chosen to aid patients' recovery, away from the busy, dirty cities. The hospital followed the Kirkbride plan, which provided patients with plenty of space, fresh air, greens, and beauty. The administration building was at the center of the hospital, with the wards branching out like a bat's wings. 

 

   Local craftsmen who took pride in their work built the hospital, which was a labor of love. Their attention to detail and skill can be seen in every corner of the hospital. The hospital's grandeur was unmatched, as it was the first High Victorian Gothic Institution in the United States. Its grand opening was on October 18, 1871, and featured female wards to the north and male wards to the south of the main administration building. The church was built behind the administration building to prevent patients from seeing each other from the wards.

 

    The hospital's campus continued to expand, with the addition of Ryon Hall for violent or criminally insane patients in 1934, the Clarence O. Cheney building for doctors' offices, medical examination rooms, and patient housing in 1952, and finally the Herman B. Snow Rehabilitation Center, which was built for recreational relief for patients. The center had a swimming pool, bowling alley, basketball court, auditorium, and dining room. 

 

   Despite its grandeur, the hospital's population slowly decreased, and in the early 1990s, with budget cuts and alternative treatment for mental illness, the hospital began downsizing. In 1994, the hospital consolidated with the neighboring hospital Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, and by 2001, the main campus, including the Kirkbride, was abandoned. Most of the hospital's functions were moved to smaller areas of the campus. On January 25, 2012, Hudson River Psychiatric Hospital closed its doors after 141 years of service. 

 

   Today, most of the buildings on the campus are slated for demolition, and the Kirkbride has suffered many hard-hitting fires. The South Wing was hit the hardest by a fire in 2007 caused by lightning, and the Administration building was intentionally set on fire in 2018. Despite this, the hospital's legacy stands strong as a testament to the skill and dedication of the craftsmen who built it and the many patients who received care within its walls.