Napa State Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Napa State Hospital |
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| California Department of State Hospitals | |
Original Kirkbride building, c. 1900
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| Geography | |
| Location | Napa, Napa Valley, Napa County, California, United States |
| Coordinates | 38°16′41″N 122°16′01″W / 38.27806°N 122.26694°W |
| Services | |
| History | |
| Founded | 1875 |
Napa State Hospital is a special hospital in Napa, California. It helps people who need care for their mental health. The hospital was started in 1875.
It is one of five state mental hospitals in California. Napa State Hospital cares for many patients. It is a very large place, covering 138 acres. Many people work here, making it a big employer in the area.
Contents
History of Napa State Hospital
The land where the hospital stands was once part of a large Mexican land grant. It was called Rancho Tulucay. In 1872, the land was sold to the State of California.
Early Years and Growth
The hospital first opened on November 15, 1875. It was originally named Napa Insane Asylum. The hospital was built to help with overcrowding at another hospital, Stockton State Hospital.
It started on 192 acres of land. By the early 1890s, the hospital had over 1,300 patients. This was more than twice the number it was built for. To help with this, Mendocino State Hospital opened in 1893. This helped reduce the number of patients at Napa.
The Castle Building
The first main building was known as "the Castle." It was a grand building made of bricks. The hospital also had a large farm. This farm included places for dairy cows and chickens. It also had vegetable gardens and fruit orchards. These farms grew much of the food for the patients. The main "Castle" building was taken down after World War II.
Notable Staff at the Hospital
Many important people have worked at Napa State Hospital. They helped care for patients and improve mental health treatment.
- Matilda Allison – An educator who taught blind veterans at Napa.
- Dorothea Dix – A famous reformer who worked to improve mental health care.
- Meredith Hodges – A psychiatric technician.
- Thomas Story Kirkbride – A doctor who designed hospitals like this one.
See also
In Spanish: Napa State Hospital para niños
- List of hospitals in California
- Matilda Allison
