Today we will look at over 280 photographs of Insane Asylum Architecture that was prevalent in America in the 19th century. Why did these need to exist? What mysteries do these supremely advanced structures hold, and could those who were disenfranchised by the American Dream of the 19th century have easily ended up in one of these asylums?
We will discuss the massive population which resided in these asylums, and how this not only influenced the growing workforce during the Industrial Revolution, but also led to the uptick in orphans in the country. These photographs vary in quality, as many are sourced from museums and private collection postcards. The impact of the architecture is profound, and many of these buildings were the largest in their respective communities. Is the current narrative trustable when it comes to the Asylums of 19th century America? Let’s take a deep dive!
Topics discussed today:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lunatic_asylum
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dorothea_Dix
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Story_Kirkbride
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kirkbride_Plan
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trenton_Psychiatric_Hospital
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Traverse_City_State_Hospital
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Orphan_Train
