09/03/2026
Opening in 1848, Central State Hospital, formerly known as āIndiana Hospital for the Insaneā, treated patients of various diagnoses.
After the first 100 years of operation, the hospital consisted of one male and one female patient buildings, a chapel, another hospital building deemed a āsick hospitalā, the pathological dpt. building (which is now an open museum), the power plant (now sat abandoned), a firehouse, bakery, an amusement building, and a few other various buildings.
There was also an operating tunnel system for majority of the buildings, and a few other outdoor features such as gardens, fountains, and more.
At least 2,500 patients were at Central State during itās peak. However, closer to the hospitals final years there was a decline in the patient population.
The mens patient building was torn down in 1941. Roughly 30 years later, majority of the buildings were demolished.
New ward buildings were built.
In 1994, Central State Hospital shut down for good. Ultimately due to lack of funds, as well as patient population decline and various accounts of alleged patient abuse and mistreatment (which unfortunately seems to be a common theme among hospitals/asylums in that time). ā¤ļøāš©¹
Most of the buildings are now gone, however a few still stand and have been renovated into various buildings.
The pathological building is now home to the Indiana Medical History Museum. Iām hoping to make it out here again tomorrow to finally tour the museum (I somehow always come out here when itās closedš)
The power plant, which is also the oldest remaining building; built in 1886, sits abandoned- and is commonly photographed, and believed to be hauntedā¦š³
The old administration building has been turned into an apartment complex- which also houses Mansion Society Coffee, my favorite coffee shop in Indy!
PLEASE NOTE: the coffee shop is only opened on specific days and hours. The admin building as a whole is not open to the general public, as there are residents there. Please do not go in, and wander off through the building. I got permission FROM AN EMPLOYEE to PEEK down the halls and snap a photo or two. If you visit the cafe, please just be respectful of those who live in the building and only go when Mansion Society is open, and only stay in the allowed common space unless you have full permission!
There are a few other buildings that have been renovated into an event center and art studio- but other than these few buildings, everything else has since been demolished.
Across the street, you can also find the Central State Hospital Cemetery. Here, many former patients are buried unmarked.
Iāll be sharing more about Central State, and the cemetery here soon!
Let me know if you have ever been here!
