Augusta Mental Health Institute facts for kids
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Maine Insane Hospital
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Maine State Hospital, around 1900
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 Location in Maine
Location in the United States
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| Location | Hospital St., Augusta, Maine |
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| Area | 9 acres (3.6 ha) (original listing) 90 acres (36 ha) (after boundary increase) |
| Architect | Multiple |
| Architectural style | Mixed, Italianate |
| NRHP reference No. | 82000754 (original) 01000811 (increase) |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 19, 1982 |
| Boundary increase | August 2, 2001 |
The Maine Insane Hospital was a special hospital in Augusta, Maine. It was later known as the Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI). This hospital was the main place in Maine for people needing mental health care from 1840 to 2004. Its buildings are some of the oldest mental health care facilities still standing in the United States.
The hospital is located on the east side of the Kennebec River. It is just south of the old Kennebec Arsenal. Today, many of its buildings are used as state offices. In 2004, a new hospital, the Riverview Psychiatric Center, opened nearby to take its place. The main part of the hospital was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982. The entire campus was added in 2001.
Contents
What Was the Maine Insane Hospital?
The Maine Insane Hospital is on the east side of Augusta. It is bordered by Hospital Street to the east and the Kennebec River to the west. The river separates the hospital from the state capitol buildings. The National Historic Landmark Kennebec Arsenal, an old military base, is just north of it. The newer Riverview Psychiatric Center is located to the south.
The hospital has many buildings, mostly made of brick or stone. They were built from 1840 until the mid-1900s. These buildings show how ideas about mental health care changed over time.
How the Hospital Started
On March 8, 1834, the state government decided to create the Maine Insane Hospital. They set aside $20,000 for it. But, people also had to raise $20,000 on their own within a year. Two important people, Reuel Williams and Benjamin Brown, each gave $10,000.
Mr. Brown first offered 200 acres of land in Vassalboro for the hospital. The government accepted it, but then decided it wasn't a good spot. So, the land was sold for $4,000. With $3,000 of that money, a better location in Augusta was bought.
A famous mental health helper named Dorothea Dix also gave advice for the project. She believed that fresh air and being away from daily stress helped patients. Another hospital in Maine, the Dorothea Dix Psychiatric Center, is named after her.
Early Leaders and Names
Dr. Cyrus Knapp was the first leader, or Superintendent, of the hospital. He started in 1840. From 1841 to 1845, Dr. Isaac Ray, a psychiatrist, was the Superintendent. Dr. Ray was one of the first thirteen members of a group for medical leaders of mental health hospitals in America.
The hospital had several names over the years:
- Maine Insane Hospital (1840)
- Augusta Insane Asylum (date unknown)
- Augusta State Hospital (1913)
- Augusta Mental Health Institute (AMHI) (1973)
- Riverview Psychiatric Center (2004)
Growing Over Time
Many new buildings and parts were added to the hospital over the years. By 1920, the hospital property was about 600 acres. About 450 acres were used for farming. Patients often worked on the farm and in the laundry.
The oldest parts of the hospital are called the Administration and Stone Buildings. They were built between 1836 and 1840. John Lord, an architect from Hallowell, designed them. Later, in the 1850s and 1860s, new wings were added. These wings followed a popular design called the Kirkbride Plan. Francis H. Fassett designed these, and George M. Coombs made changes later.
In the 1880s, smaller separate buildings were added. This was part of a plan by Francis Fassett. This "pavilion housing" idea was meant to be better for patients. However, it became too expensive for the large number of people needing care. So, new dormitory-style buildings were built. These combined patient rooms, housing for workers, and offices. The campus also had many service buildings. The grounds were also made beautiful to help the patients feel better.
The hospital was used continuously until 2004. That's when the Riverview Psychiatric Center opened. As fewer patients needed long-term hospital care, some parts of the old hospital were used for other things. Many became state offices.
See also
