For decades,the abandoned wards,crumbling paint,and a network of underground tunnels have captured the public's imagination, fueled by ghost stories and its use as a chillingly authentic Hollywood set.
A Groundbreaking Vision from Dorothea Dix
The hospital's story begins in 1845,thanks to the tireless advocacy of social reformerDorothea Dix. Dix was horrified by the conditions she found in Pennsylvania's almshouses and prisons, where people with mental illnesses were often chained in unheated cellars. She successfully petitioned the state legislature to create the Pennsylvania State Lunatic Hospital, the first public institution for mental health care in the Commonwealth.
When it opened in 1851,the hospital was a revolutionary concept.Its original building was designed by famed architect John Haviland,following the"Kirkbride Plan."This architectural theory,championed by Dr.Thomas Story Kirkbride,argued that a building's design was integral to a patient's recovery.The hospital featured a"bat-wing"layout with long,staggered wings,ensuring every patient's room had fresh air and natural sunlight—a humane approach for the era.
From "Kirkbride" to "Cottage Plan"
By the late 1800s, the Kirkbride model was falling out of favor. The hospital's original building was demolished and replaced between 1893 and 1912 with a campus of smaller,separate buildings.This"Cottage Plan"was meant to create a more intimate,home-like environment.
The hospital grew into a self-sufficient community.At its peak,the campus covered over 1,000 acres and had more than 70 buildings,including its own farm,power plant,morgue,and chapel.It housed over 2,400 patients,earning its nickname as the"City on the Hill."
Why Did It Close?
The hospital's decline mirrors the story of many state institutions. The development of new psychiatric medicines in the mid-20th century, combined with a national shift toward deinstitutionalization, led to a sharp decrease in patient populations.
Community-based care became the new standard, and large-scale institutions like the Harrisburg State Hospital were seen as outdated and isolating. After 155 years of continuous operation, the facility was officially closed in January 2006.
The Haunting Emptiness Within
Since its closure, the mostly-vacant campus has become a popular subject for urban explorers, photographers, and paranormal investigators.
- What's Left Behind: Though the buildings are secured, accounts from the last public tours and explorers describe a scene frozen in time. Peeling paint hangs in sheets from high ceilings, medical equipment rusts in empty exam rooms, and patient belongings are scattered in decaying wards.
- The Underground Tunnels: A network of utility tunnels runs beneath the campus, connecting the various buildings. These dark, graffiti-scarred passages are a focal point of the hospital's lore, rumored to be haunted by the spirits of former patients.
- Hollywood's "Claymoore" Hospital: The hospital's eerie atmosphere was so authentic that it was chosen as the primary filming location for the 1999 movieGirl,Interrupted.It was renamed"Claymoore Hospital"for the film,and many of the signs and set pieces—including the"Administration"sign—were left behind,adding to the site's surreal and cinematic decay.
What is the Future of the "City on the Hill"?
The fate of the historic campus has been a long-running debate. For years, the state planned to sell the massive 295-acre property to a private developer.
However, in 2022, the state reversed this decision. The current plan involves a multi-year project to save and reuse the property for state agencies. The first major step is the construction of a new, state-of-the-art laboratory facility on the grounds. While some buildings are slated for demolition, there is a renewed commitment to preserving the most historically significant structures, ensuring that the legacy of Dorothea Dix's"City on the Hill"is not completely erased.
Check out thisvideo exploring the hospital's tunnels. It gives a good sense of the atmosphere beneath the abandoned buildings.
