New York State Inebriate Asylum facts for kids
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New York State Inebriate Asylum
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The New York State Inebriate Asylum, as it appeared in 1882
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 Location in New York
Location in the United States
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| Location | 425 Robinson St., Binghamton, NY |
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| Area | 20 acres (8.1 ha) (landmarked area) |
| Built | 1858 |
| Architect | Isaac G. Perry |
| Architectural style | Gothic Revival |
| NRHP reference No. | 96000814 |
Quick facts for kids Significant dates |
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| Added to NRHP | July 24, 1996 |
| Designated NHL | December 9, 1997 |
The New York State Inebriate Asylum, later known as Binghamton State Hospital, was the first place built specifically to help people with certain health challenges in the United States. It is located in Binghamton, NY.
The building has a grand Gothic Revival style. It was designed by New York architect Isaac G. Perry. Construction finished in 1864. In 1997, this important building was named a National Historic Landmark. In 2015, Binghamton University announced it would take care of the building. They plan to fix it up and use it again.
Contents
A Historic Building's Story
The old New York State Inebriate Asylum building sits high on a hill in eastern Binghamton. You can find it at 425 Robinson Street. It is a very large and impressive stone building. Its style is called Gothic Revival.
Design and Layout
The building was planned using ideas from the Kirkbride Plan. This was a special way to design large buildings for helping people. When it was first built, it looked like the letter "T". The middle part was for offices and managing the building. The side parts were for people staying there. A back part was for services, but this part has been taken down.
Building's Purpose Over Time
The idea for the asylum started in 1854. Work on the building began in 1857. At that time, this area was outside the city of Binghamton. The asylum welcomed its first people in 1864. The building itself was fully finished two years later, in 1866.
This was the first big public place where people could get help for certain health conditions. It worked this way until 1879. Then, it became a hospital for mental health. In the 1880s, many new buildings were added. Most of these extra buildings have since been removed. The main building was used as a mental health center until 1993. It closed because it needed too many repairs.
Future Plans for the Building
In 2008, SUNY Upstate Medical University took over the empty building. They planned to fix it up and create a new campus there. However, due to money problems, they only made sure the building was stable. They did not develop it further.
Then, in 2015, Binghamton University announced it would take responsibility for the building. They have shared plans to fix up this historic place.
Images for kids
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The New York State Inebriate Asylum, as it appeared in 1882
