I'm really scared, all these comments are really creeping me out. Well anyways this is my story. Me and my friends couldn't decide whereto go, but we were looking all over places and we thought of somewhere fun to go to. Then we all thought of going to the pilgrim state hospital since its near. We all went walking together in the morning. We didn't go inside though. We were thinking of going again at night. Should we? Can anyone tell me why it was abonaded? Why can't someone burn the whole building If its abonaded? Why can't someone buy it? Is there spirits there? Have anyone seen ghost? Is there really hobo's, cats, dogs, and bats that live there? Why would anyone go at night if there's polices? Can a ghost follow you? My important question is, Is Pilgrim State Hospital really HAUNTED? Someone please give me a big description about the Pilgrim State Hospital and answer all of my questions, thank you very much.,

the lighter spots on the floor kind of look like monster footsteps to me. kind of gives this picture a sad realization-like feeling.... at least to me.

if anyone has any old medical records or interesting facts or stories (stories would be nice) from/about this place, please email me at amywalawala@yahoo.com

or maybee they felt inprisoned in their thoughts and in realty, which would be understandable. because they was,

also, the bunny is in a cirlce, a circle usually represents protection, maybee they didnt feel safe and scaired witht hehuge teeth

sublliminal messaging!

theirs also lots off white things on the floor on that foto, like the white stuff thats on what ever surface the note book is on.

also looks like theirs blood on the wall below her hands, and her out fit doesnt look fitting for the type of person you would expect to do somthing like that for fun.

That woman doesnt look healthy at all, her hands are red as well as her feet and her legs. I wonder if she was in trouble when this photo was takenm if i was u i would of taken it to the police, maybee she was murdered.

The face looks like Michael Myers

could be staff name too....

But Terri ...please remember that this was a different time. If you had a "different looking" or "slow" kid..either evident from birth or thereafter...alot of the medical professionals would highly insist that these kids go to places like Pennhurst. Rarely did a family keep their loved one home & out in public for all to see. If families did provide care within the home.....noboby knew they did!

that's not an examination table...it was used as a changing table for residents that wore a diaper. Although they are no longer used, there are similar tables throughout currently operational PA institutions.

Many Institutions & "Insane Assylums" began as TB hospitals...thus the on-sight medical facilities & locations far from "urban" areas.

Lynn...while i admit that there are some disturbing facilities across the nation, PA has learned & is still learning from the horrible experiences patients were subjected to while residents of Pennhurst. First & foremost....better oversight. PA leads the nation in incident managment & reporting of incidents that happen to MR/DD/II residents whose services are funded under Medicaid Waivers. Providers of service are held to "task" when issues of abuse, neglect & exploitation are discovered. When abuse, neglect &/or exploitation is confirmed through investigative discovery, staff responsible are often referred to local law enforcement. When gross neglegence is suspected/confirmed, providers are often de-licensed as a result. (Their operational license is revoked.)


a You are also giving more credit to some of the current facilities than they deserve for their care. As was the case in the past, facilities today do only as well as they are funded and as well as they are surveyed.

Also...many parents were simply told or pressured to have their disabled children placed there by their medical professionals. That was the norm then, but it certainly has changed over time. Advances in cognitive therapies, social acceptance of the mentally disabled & better oversight of state & privately run facilites that care for the mentally disabled have moved this system toward what we would all call....an "Everyday Life".

Please don't forget that many of the Pennhurst patients were there from early childhood or even birth.... they didn't know what it was like outside, they didn't know their families, they didn't know what it was like to be loved.... because they never had it in the first place.

Many state institutions were self sustaining....the patients farmed the land for food, water treatment facilities were on site & most had generated their own electricity through a "powerhouse" that was usually a short distance from the campus.

There were also many violent patients kept at Pennhurst. They would keep them in the basement as to prevent them from assaulting the other patients/staff.

Amazing! Seeing that you had another brilliantly beautiful album up has made my day. Thank you!

They had it very nice on the first floor so the family thought everything would look nice in the whole area. They wanted the families to think that they were leaving them in good hands. They did some unspeakable things to people there.
They would ask families if they would give them notice when they would come down and then they would make sure they were dressed approriate. After they would make sure they were on the first floor so the families would only see that area...

My uncle worked the movie projector...I was about 4 years old (1961). He would take me, my sister, and his three daughters to see the nights show. I think I was too young to really understand where we were sitting in the dark, the five of us girls, ages 4-14 along with the patients who quietly filed in. I know I never felt afraid, but just a confusion of where exactly I was and who all those people were who couln't go home after the show.

This might be one of the most beautiful buildings I've ever seen. What a shame! The attention to detail is evident throughout! Too bad someone can't save it and transform it into something beautiful and useful once again! Great pics!

Both my grandmother and great-grandmother worked in this center for 30 year each. My great-grandmother was beaten very badly by a patient causing her retirement. My grandmother retired in the mid-80's. She has wild stories to tell about this place!

Actually I see Beth. Its hard but under what appears to be a D is another curve, at any rate its not death. No A, and if I were going to carve a word in a wall I would spell it all the way, otherwise...see what happens. :)