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Lanterman Developmental Center facts for kids

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Lanterman Developmental Center
Geography
Location 3530 Pomona Boulevard, Pomona, San Gabriel Valley, California, United States
Coordinates 34°02′42″N 117°48′26″W / 34.04494°N 117.8073°W / 34.04494; -117.8073
Organization
Funding Public hospital
Hospital type Specialist
Services
Speciality developmental disabilities,
psychiatry
Demolished July 1, 2015

The Lanterman Developmental Center was a special hospital in California. It was first called the Pacific Colony. This center helped people who had developmental disabilities. These are conditions that can make it harder for people to learn, move, or communicate. The center was located in a place called Pomona, in the San Gabriel Valley. It was open for 87 years, from 1927 until 2015. During that time, it helped about 14,000 people.

What Was the Lanterman Center?

The Lanterman Developmental Center was a public facility. This means it was supported by the government. Its main goal was to provide care and support for people with developmental disabilities. It also helped people with mental health needs. The center worked to improve the lives of its patients. It offered different kinds of training and activities.

A Long History of Care

The center first opened its doors on May 2, 1927. It was known by several names over the years. These names included Pacific Colony State Hospital and Pacific State Hospital. Later, it was named after Frank D. Lanterman. He was a person who worked to help people with disabilities. The center closed on July 1, 2015.

How the Center Helped People

When the center closed, it had many different buildings. These buildings were designed to help patients in various ways.

  • There were nine buildings where patients lived.
  • One unit was like a small hospital. It provided medical care.
  • There were places for training and work. This helped people learn new skills.
  • A special center taught job skills.
  • There were also places for fun activities and sports.
  • The center had a building for research. This helped them learn more about developmental disabilities.
  • A child day care center was available. It was for children of staff and people in the community.
  • There was even a credit union.
  • The California Conservation Corps also had a presence there.

The Lanterman Developmental Center played an important role. It provided care and support for many people. It helped them live fuller lives.

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