Hawthorne in Indianapolis in Marion County, Indiana — The American Midwest (Great Lakes)
Central State Hospital
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 7, 2017
1. Central State Hospital Marker
Side 1
Side 1
People with mental illness were confined to jails and almshouses, often suffering neglect, before Dr. John Evans and local physicians advocated for their treatment; 1840s state laws established hospital here. In 1848, first patients admitted to Indiana Hospital for the Insane; treated for mental illness and addiction. Farm colony work and recreation used as therapy.
Side 2
Since hospital’s opening, lack of funding and understaffing led to patient abuse and neglect; Superintendent Dr. Fletcher attempted to rectify this and burned patient restraints in a bonfire, 1883. Groundbreaking pathology lab opened 1896, served as state teaching hospital. Renamed Central State Hospital in 1927. Closed in 1994 with the goal of community-based care.
Erected 2016 by Installed Indiana Historical Bureau, the Indiana Medical History Museum, and Reverie Estates. (Marker Number 49.2016.3.)
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Science & Medicine. In addition, it is included in the Indiana Historical Bureau Markers series list.
Location. 39° 46.05′ N, 86° 12.639′ W. Marker is in Indianapolis, Indiana, in Marion County. It is in Hawthorne.
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Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies. Pathological Department / Old Pathology Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Old Pathology Building (approx. 0.2 miles away); Hawthorne Branch Library No. 2 (approx. half a mile away); Anthony Wayne (approx. 0.6 miles away); World War II Memorial (approx. 0.6 miles away); Floyd "Pop" Dreyer (approx. 1.4 miles away); Walker House (approx. 1.4 miles away); Hine Street (approx. 1.4 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Indianapolis.
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 7, 2017
2. Central State Hospital Marker
Side 2
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 7, 2017
3. Central State Hospital Marker
Photographed By Paul Fehrenbach, June 7, 2017
4. Central State Hospital
Entrance archway
Credits. This page was last revised on February 4, 2023. It was originally submitted on August 2, 2017, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. This page has been viewed 298 times since then and 32 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 2, 2017, by Paul Fehrenbach of Germantown, Wisconsin. • Bill Pfingsten was the editor who published this page.
