Traverse City State Hospital
Traverse City State Hospital opened in 1885 as the Northern Michigan Asylum for the Insane. As its name implies, it was founded to provide care for the population of northern Michigan.
One of several Kirkbride buildings constructed in Michigan, Traverse City is the last in existence. Today the hospital's Kirkbride sits within a large complex of buildings. Various cottages and other structures of different sizes surround it. This Kirkbride appears less ominous than some of the others documented on this site. The off-white walls, large un-boarded windows, and lack of overgrowth contribute to a much more wholesome aspect. Unfortunately, the building's administration section was deemed a fire hazard and was destroyed in 1963. Its replacement, a strictly utilitarian structure typical of mid-twentieth-century public architecture, spoils the beauty of this Kirkbride.
The good news is that the Traverse City community realizes that this building is still a treasure. Renovations are well under way, and the building will eventually become part of a mixed residential/commercial community within the larger city.
Other names for this hospital:
- Northern Michigan Asylum
- Traverse City Regional Psychiatric Hospital
- The Village at Grand Traverse Commons
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Blog Posts
- Traverse City Tunnels
- Here's a short piece about the tunnels under the former Traverse City State Hospital's Building 50: The Tunnels Underneath Building 50. It's from a segment called Jack's Journal...
- Points North: Traverse City State Hospital
- Points North, a show on Interlochen Public Radio in Michigan, recently produced a program about Traverse City State Hospital: listen here. The program is 50+ minutes and full of...
- Traverse City Transformation
- The transformation of Traverse City State Hospital into The Village at Grand Traverse Commons is probably a familiar story to most of you reading this blog. Reuse of the...
Angels in the Architecture contains Heidi Johnson's photographs of Traverse City State Hospital juxtaposed with rare historical images and firsthand accounts of the sad realities and surprising acts of kindness from the hospital's history.
Northern Michigan Asylum is a comprehensive history of Michigan's third asylum, built in 1885. Contains more than 100 historic photos and illustrations.
Traverse City State Hospital traces the history of Traverse City State Hospital, from its founding, through its development and decline, and finally to its renovation and preservation as part of the Traverse City community.
Beauty is Therapy contains the memoirs of Earle Steele, an employee of Traverse City State Hospital for fifty years. Steele helped develop the hospital museum and served as curator until the closing of the hospital in 1984.