Sitting on multiple acres of land in Pennsylvania lies the Pennhurst State School and Hospital.

After 79 years of controversy, it finally closed its doors for good on December 9, 1987.

On November 23, 1908, “Patient number 1” was admitted to the hospital. Within four years of operation, Pennhurst was already overcrowded and under pressure to admit immigrants, orphans, and criminals.

In 1981, a Time magazine article described the place as having “a history of being understaffed, dirty and violent.” In 1983, nine employees were indicted on charges ranging from slapping and beating patients (including some in wheelchairs) to arranging for patients to assault each other.

By the end of 2016, demolition had begun on some of the buildings on the upper campus.

In 2017, bookings for daytime history tours, photography tours, and overnight paranormal investigations became available through the haunted attraction’s website. Proceeds from the tours go towards the upkeep of the grounds and restoration of the remaining buildings.

By 2020, Hershey, Rockwell, and Dietary halls were all deemed unsafe for reuse. That March, demolition began and by November, all three buildings had been demolished.

This is just a very brief history of Pennhurst and just barely scratches the surface of the history and problems that the hospital had. I advise you to visit the Wikipedia page where this information came from.

All photos below are taken and copyrighted by Jasonbakerphotography and you can find more photos on IG under the same name.

The entrance of the Administration building

Forgotten X-Rays lay scattered on the ground

One of the many forgotten X-Rays

A Bed frame lays in a decaying ward

Another ward with bed and stuffed animal

A children’s room inside a ward

Lunch trays stacked and forgotten about

Games

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