Hudson River State Hospital is the third state-run mental hospital in New York, following the Utica Psychiatric Center and the Willard Asylum for the Chronic Insane. Located in Poughkeepsie, New York, the hospital's site along the Hudson River was intentionally chosen to promote patient recovery, away from the hustle and pollution of urban life. The hospital was designed according to the Kirkbride plan, which emphasized providing patients with ample space, fresh air, green surroundings, and a beautiful environment. The administration building was situated at the center of the hospital, with the wards extending outward like a bat's wings.

 

The construction of the hospital was a labor of love, completed by local craftsmen who took great pride in their work. Their attention to detail and skill is evident in every corner of the building. The hospital's architectural grandeur was unmatched, as it was the first High Victorian Gothic institution in the United States. It grandly opened its doors on October 18, 1871, featuring female wards to the north and male wards to the south of the main administration building. A church was constructed behind the administration building to prevent patients from viewing each other from the wards.

 

The hospital's campus continued to expand over the years, adding Ryon Hall in 1934 for violent or criminally insane patients, the Clarence O. Cheney building in 1952 for doctors’ offices, medical examination rooms, and patient housing, and finally, the Herman B. Snow Rehabilitation Center, which provided recreational facilities for patients, including a swimming pool, bowling alley, basketball court, auditorium, and dining room.

 

Despite its impressive architecture, the hospital’s patient population began to decline slowly. In the early 1990s, budget cuts and the rise of alternative treatments for mental illness prompted the hospital to downsize. In 1994, it consolidated with the nearby Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center, and by 2001, the main campus, including the Kirkbride building, was abandoned. Most of the hospital's operations were relocated to smaller facilities on the campus. On January 25, 2012, Hudson River Psychiatric Hospital closed its doors after 141 years of service.

 

Today, most buildings on the campus are slated for demolition, and the Kirkbride building has been severely damaged by several fires. The South Wing suffered extensive damage due to a lightning strike in 2007, while the Administration building was deliberately set on fire in 2018. Despite these hardships, the hospital's legacy endures as a testament to the craftsmanship of those who built it and the many patients who received care within its walls.