Myths & Legends: Stories from the State Hospital
Museum Plans Tour of State Hospital
Mark your calendar for the popular Myths & Legends: Stories from the State Hospital on Friday, July 8, 6:30 p.m.
With the future of the Fergus Falls State Hospital complex uncertain, it is imperative to preserve its history and stories. This tour explores the hospital’s history and why the “castle on the hill” developed such an aura of mystery and legend. Please be aware this is not an interior tour. It makes its way around the building’s exterior while guides relate stories and events that define its past.
When it opened in 1890, the hospital was considered a model institution. It followed a moral management plan based upon the concepts of Dr. Thomas Kirkbride. Kirkbride called for more humane treatment centered on improved medical care. He felt the mentally ill were suffering from illnesses that could be treated and possibly cured. Putting theory into practice, the early days at the hospital were so quiet that a reporter compared the asylum to a summer resort hotel.
Did this trend continue as the patient population increased? Was the hospital an idyllic institution where nothing went wrong? Be sure to attend the July 8 Stories from the State Hospital to discover the answers.
Cost for the tour is $6. Please park in the Government Services parking lot on the west end of the hospital complex. No reservations are required. For more information contact OTCHS at 218-736-6038.
Media Contact:
Chris Schuelke, Executive Director
Otter Tail County Historical Society
1110 Lincoln Ave West
Fergus Falls, MN 56537
