Did you know...that I like...

abandoned mental institutions or psychiatric hospitals?

It started when I was in junior high, Edna took me for a drive through the Traverse City State Hospital grounds. I was amazed at the architecture and the abandon of it all. All the things just left behind - like they didn't have time to pack. I even kinda liked the eery-ness of it. When I was in high school, the art teacher did a series of paintings of the old hospital and again, I was intrigued. I've read a few books about the State Hospital but, have never been there since. Now, it is The Village at Grand Traverse Commons and I'd love to get back there again one day.

This past weekend, Jeremy took me to the Kalamazoo State Hospital, which is still in operation, but there is an abandoned section. This is the original water tower.

I believe this was an administration building at one time. I was able to peek through the front doors and these buildings simply amaze me in their construction. The floor in the entry is white hexagonal tile with a dark grout. The walls are white marble panels with a gray marble trim. The stairs are solid slabs of white marble. At the top are two sets of huge oak doors with leaded glass windows from top to bottom. I got a picture of the entry (it's on Flickr) but I couldn't get the shot of the inside doors and the marble to come out when taking it through the glass.

An abandoned shed - the front would have been a better shot - but the briers deterred me!

The crackled fire hydrant.

And what's left of a lamp post.

There were so many paths to explore and I was nervous about trespassing. There is a police station across the street.

The architecture of the Thomas Kirkbride buildings will continue to fascinate me (what is left of the Kalamazoo Asylum in not Kirkbride - the original buildings that have been demolished were). It's such a terrible shame that these works of art continue to deteriorate or simply be torn down all over this country. What also strikes me as strange - is such elaborate architecture to be used in mental institutions...not that I feel it a waste, but more if it's going to be hidden away like that - and then destroyed, why do it?