At one point in its 123-year history, St. Joseph's State Lunatic Asylum No. 2 held around 3,000 patients. Though the hospital is no longer operational, the imposing brick building now houses the
Glore Psychiatric Museum (3406 Frederick, one mile west of Interstate 29, off Exit 47, 800-530-8866). Over a 40-year period, George Glore collected and maintained the museum's display, giving us the opportunity to get an extensive look into the history of mental-health care. The museum features a wide range of apparatuses used to treat patients, as well as a large display of artwork (much of it quite beautiful) made by the hospital's patients. A particularly memorable exhibit is the display of the more than 1,000 nails, pins and other objects removed from a patient's stomach in 1929. Admission costs $3 for students, $4 for seniors and $5 for adults. The museum is open today from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. For more information, see
stjosephmuseum.org/glore.htm.
$3-$5
