The Redevelopment of Central State Hospital Indianapolis, Indiana -

The tale of the Indiana Hospital for the Insane, later the Central State Hospital, is much like Farm Colony hospitals all across the country. Opening in the mid-1800’s, the sprawling and self sufficient colony covered 160 acres outside of downtown Indianapolis and included male and female wards, a farm worked by patients. Later in a Pathology Building would be created for the study and “teaching” of mental illnesses and care–breaking ground and gaining fame for its discovery regarding treating syphilis, which, in its later stages, attacked the nervous system and caused psychosis. The Kirkbride style patients buildings housed 2,500 patients at its peak. But like many asylums, deinstitutionalization and drug advances brought its life to an end. And also like many it officially closed in the early 90’s.

Though many of the structure on the map below have been demolished, the “Central State Village” has done an impressive job with acknowledging its past and moving forward. I walked the grounds and found a nice variety of means of giving back… with a little bit of the nitty and gritty to explore still. Starting with the Power Plant, currently for rent!

Gotta peek in there…

Welcome to the second life of the Central State Hospital!

People for Urban Progress are in the old carpentry building

Another repurposed building across from the Power Plant

The cool neon says Cafeteria

The past is in the past and on a plaque

The Central State Mansion houses art space and a coffee shop.

And it’s got a pool in the back!

The old Pathology building is now Indiana Medical History Museum. I wished I could go in to see! Alas, Covid… The preserved building had a beautiful garden of medicinal plants

I wandered to the back and walked into this building… because the door was open. I am not 100% sure what the structure was, but old maps just note that it had refrigeration… behind the Pathology research building.. so I am thinking there was once er, cadavers inside!