Susquehanna Township near Harrisburg in Dauphin County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)

Harrisburg State Hospital

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

1. Harrisburg State Hospital Marker

Inscription. The first State mental hospital in Pennsylvania. Opened in 1851, a result of efforts by the noted humanitarian, Dorothea Lynde Dix, to improve this State's treatment of the mentally ill. The hospital is on the wooded hills east of this marker, overlooking the city.

Erected 1987 by Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Charity & Public Work • Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission (PHMC) series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1851.

Location. 40° 17.085′ N, 76° 52.863′ W. Marker is near Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, in Dauphin County. It is in Susquehanna Township. It is on North Cameron Street (U.S. 22) 0.2 miles north of Maclay Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2300 North Cameron Street, Harrisburg PA 17110, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in South-Central Pennsylvania, specifically in Pennsylvania Dutch Country,

and in the Susquehanna Valley.

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It is also in the American Northeast

and in the Mid-Atlantic.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy

and also one of the original Thirteen Colonies.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Pennsylvania State Farm Show Complex (approx. 0.2 miles away); Pennsylvania Farm Show (approx. 0.2 miles away); a different marker also named Harrisburg State Hospital (approx. 0.2 miles away); Camp Curtin (approx. half a mile away); a different marker also named Camp Curtin (approx. 0.6 miles away); Camp Curtin Memorial-Mitchell United Methodist Church (approx. 0.6 miles away); Charles Y. Petty Sr. (approx. 0.6 miles away); a different marker also named Camp Curtin (approx. 0.6 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Harrisburg.

Another marker is no longer nearby. The Ladies Of Harrisburg During The Civil War (was approx. 0.6 miles away but has been confirmed missing).

Also see . . . MarkerQuest - Harrisburg State Hospital.

Main Building of Pennsylvania State Hospital image. Click for full size.

Photographed by William Pfingsten, March 21, 2008

2. Main Building of Pennsylvania State Hospital

(Submitted on January 24, 2024, by Laura Klotz of Northampton, Pennsylvania.)

Additional commentary.
1. Hospital Closed
The Harrisburg State Hospital was closed early in 2006. Government offices still occupy some of the buildings as the final disposition of the property is considered.

— Submitted May 17, 2008, by John K. Robinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania.

The intricately carved datestone on the Administration Building. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, September 2, 2007

3. The intricately carved datestone on the Administration Building.

The hospital chapel. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, September 2, 2007

4. The hospital chapel.

Dixmont Cottage. image. Click for full size.

Photographed by John K. Robinson, September 2, 2007

5. Dixmont Cottage.

National Register Plaque on one of the buildings in the complex image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Devry Becker Jones (CC0), August 2, 2019

6. National Register Plaque on one of the buildings in the complex

Harrisburg State Hospital
opened October 6, 1851
has been placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior

Credits. This page was last revised on January 25, 2024. It was originally submitted on March 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. This page has been viewed 5,773 times since then and 66 times this year. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on March 22, 2008, by Bill Pfingsten of Bel Air, Maryland. 3, 4, 5. submitted on May 17, 2008, by John K. Robinson of Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. 6. submitted on August 3, 2019, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.