One of Georgia’s most infamous asylums–Georgia’s Central State Hospital in Milledgeville–is still a point of fascination for many Georgia residents. Once the largest mental asylum in the state, its empty halls are quite disturbing….yet fascinating. Look at these 25 photos inside of its walls:
Central State Hospital opened in 1842 as Georgia’s first psychotic hospital.
kmoney56 via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
It was also the largest mental facility in Georgia–it was also referred to as once being the world’s largest mental facility.
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
This hospital’s population grew to nearly 12,000 in the 1960s.
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
The hospital that sits on nearly 2000 acres of land is now just an old decaying building.
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
It was crowded in the 1950s, and in 1959 the patient to doctor ratio was 100 to 1.
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
Its names include “Georgia State Lunatic, Idiot, and Epileptic Asylum” and it was also known as the “Georgia State Sanitarium and Milledgeville State Hospital.”
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
Doctors used the tools of the time- lobotomies, insulin shock, and early electroshock therapy.
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
Children were confined to cages and adults in straight jackets. Adults were also forced to take steam baths and cold showers.
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
Due to the overwhelming amount of patients, many of their needs were neglected…
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
Sometimes local Georgia communities sent problematic patients to this hospital regardless of their diagnosis.
David Scaglione via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
The hospital closed in 2010, however those interested in learning more about this asylum’s history can visit the Central State Hospital Museum in Milledgeville.
David Scaglione via Flickr
Aren’t these photos simply haunting? There are so fascinating! Thank David Scaglione who shot these amazing photos of this haunted, deserted place. He truly captured the essence of Central State Hospital. Do you know of any other abandoned asylums here in Georgia? Tell us about it in the comments below.
kmoney56 via Flickr
David Scaglione via Flickr
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