Wyoming State Hospital facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Wyoming State Hospital
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View from the entrance
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 Location in Wyoming
Location in the United States
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| Location | Evanston, Wyoming |
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| Built | 1887 |
| Architect | Dubois, William; Goodrich & Wilking; others |
| Architectural style | Late Victorian, Late 19th and 20th Century Revivals |
| NRHP reference No. | 03000084 |
| Added to NRHP | February 27, 2003 |
The Wyoming State Hospital is a very old and important hospital located in Evanston, Wyoming. It was once known by an older name, the Wyoming State Insane Asylum. This hospital helps people who need special care for their mental health.
The oldest part of the hospital grounds is a special "historic district." This means it's a protected area because of its history. It includes fifteen important buildings. These buildings include the main office, places where staff and patients lived, staff apartments, and a cafeteria. Many of these buildings were designed by a famous architect named William Dubois.
The hospital was started in 1887. The historic buildings you see today were built between 1907 and 1948. Long ago, new parts of the hospital were often named after different counties in Wyoming. However, newer additions like Aspen, Cottonwood, and Evergreen halls do not follow this old tradition. Some buildings were also designed by architects Goodrich & Wilking from Casper.
Contents
Exploring the Wyoming State Hospital Buildings
The Women's Building
The Women's Building is the oldest place where patients lived. It was built in 1908. An addition was made in 1913. This building is now called Fremont Hall and Albany Hall. It has a main part with two matching sections on the sides.
This two-story building is about 172 feet long and 57 feet wide. It has a strong foundation made of local stone. The outside walls are made of special pressed brick. The roof is metal, but it used to be slate. There are two large porches with brick arches. Inside, the floors are made of maple wood. There is also a full basement that connects to other buildings on the campus.
The Men's Building
The very first building for men, built in 1887, was unfortunately destroyed by fire. But a part added in 1916 still stands. Other parts, like the administration wing and the south wing, were built in 1918. The east wing was added in 1923. All these parts were designed by William Dubois.
Today, the north and east wings are called Natrona and Laramie Halls. The south wing is Converse/Weston Hall. This large building now holds the hospital's main offices, the library, and the occupational therapy department. It is a two-story building made of concrete and steel, covered with brick. It has a grand entrance with stone columns. Inside, you can still find the original wood floors under modern carpet. This building also connects to the underground hallway system that links to other parts of the hospital.
Building for Special Male Patients
This one-story building was designed by Dubois and built in 1918. It is known as Sheridan Hall. It used to help young patients, but that service has stopped. The building is shaped like an "H" and has brick on the outside. A long hallway runs through the middle, with large rooms on each side where patients used to stay.
New Building for Women
This building was designed by Dubois and built in 1926. It is now known as Lincoln, Platte, and Washakie Halls. It is an L-shaped, two-story building. It has a painted stone foundation and is covered in brick. The New Building for Women has a porch with arches. Inside, there is a central hallway with many different sized rooms.
Building for Employees
The Building for Employees is called Clark Hall. It was also designed by Dubois. This building has special cast stone columns and pillars.
Building for Patients Needing Extra Care
This building was designed by Dubois in 1935. It is known as Carbon and Johnson Halls. The east part of the building now has offices for services that help young people. The west part has classrooms. This building is shaped like an "H" and is made of brick.
Other Hospital Buildings
The hospital grounds also have other buildings. These include the laundry building, a chicken granary, and a calf barn. These buildings are now used for shops or storage. There is also a carpenter shop and a paint shop.
The Wyoming State Hospital was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2003. This means it is recognized as an important historic site.
