Long Island Farm Colony Kings Park Psychiatric Center Building 93 -

Back at Kings Park with some loose goals. The site still has not fully revealed itself to me–a fact that keeps drawing me in. You may have noticed… Today, finally, inside the towering structure that welcomes you upon arrival to Nissequogue River State Park, Building 93–the 13 floor infirmary. Throughout all my visits, entrance eluded me for several reasons. This time, I was even open to try enter through the tunnel system! But alas, there was no need. To follow, some history on the building and some shots on our trek from the basement to the attic.

Building 93’s form is specific to its function. We observed that as we got to the upper floors there were banisters along the walls that then disappeared on the very upper floors. The similar floor plans of each level made the basement a richer place to photograph, though the common areas were expansive, full of sunlight and wonderful to capture.

There were lots of explorers out and about at the time of our visit, but once inside, we were on our own.

Some lovely artifacts–an 8-track advertisement…

I love how my shadow looks like a dress form here

The great versatile Valium

Bed check log dated 1986

In a large open room in the basement lies the now mostly hidden remains of a fascinating piece of Kings Park history. A mural depicting daily life on the ward. Detailed beautifully by Matthew Christopher here, the mural was created by Percy Crosby, a well-known cartoonist who was committed to Kings Park for the last 16 years of his life–claiming to be falsely imprisoned by those who wanted to steal his profitable work. There are layers of intricacy to his life, which is extensively chronologized on this site.

Perhaps a bit mysteriously, the Farm Colony book refers to the artist as “unknown.” To me that kind of validates some of Crosby’s claims.

Laundry carts in the basement

A lot of beds remain in the basement. When the hospital closed officially in 1996, remaining patients were transported to Pilgrim State. The beds were stashed after there trip down from the upper levels.