Like many states, Iowa has an interesting – and often dark – history when it comes to mental hospitals. Ornate architecture, chilling pasts, and even a few haunted legends are hidden within the halls of Iowa’s insane asylums. While some are abandoned or not in medical use, these asylums in Iowa are all still standing today. Some are even open for tours by appointment. Let’s check them out.

1. Johnson County Poor Farm & Asylum, Iowa City

Johnson County Historic Poor Farm, 4811 Melrose Ave, Iowa City, IA 52246, USA
Elizabeth Ann/GoogleReviews
At one point in Iowa's history, every county had its own Poor Farm. The Johnson County Poor Farm, built in 1855, offers us a unique glimpse into the way we used to care for our most vulnerable citizens. In the 1820s, the United States established that it was the duty of the local governments to care for the mentally ill. Often, the very poorest citizens were also residents of these establishments. In the mid-1800s, the standard of care for people suffering from mental illness was, "hard work and fresh air."

People who lived at the county poor farms did farm chores as they were able. Until the 1960s, this Poor Farm was a dairy and crop producing acreage. Today, the Johnson County Poor Farm remains intact, including several outbuildings, a brick cistern, and the restored 1859 "First Johnson County Asylum" wing. Although it is unused, this place serves as an important Iowa historical site. Due to current construction, visitors can only tour with an appointment.

2. Edinburgh Manor, Monticello

Edinburgh Manor/Facebook
Edinburgh Manor, By Appointment Only, 13241 E23 County Home Rd, Monticello, IA 52310, USA
Edinburgh Manor/Facebook
Edinburgh Manor is the second asylum on this site in Scotch Grove. The first was demolished in the early 1900s. Many residents of the first establishment died of questionable causes. The graves of 80 residents are in the cemetery behind the historic building.

The current building, constructed in 1910, was in operation until 2010. It was originally a place to house the insane, extremely poor, and the elderly. The building is a paranormal investigation site and was the feature in an episode of the TV show, Ghost Adventures. Tours are available by appointment, and during special (spooky) events.

3. Independence State Hospital, Independence

Eco84/Wikimedia

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Independence, IA 50644, USA
JCHaywire/Flickr
A growing need for mental health facilities in Iowa after the Civil War caused the Iowa legislature to put aside money to build an additional hospital for the insane in Independence, Iowa. The only other Iowa insane asylum in the state at this point was in Mount Pleasant, and it was overcrowded. Independence State Hospital opened in 1873. Visitors can tour the building, including the "Days of Yore" wing featuring a somewhat disturbing look back through time at how society used to treat people suffering from mental illness.

4. Clarinda State Hospital, Clarinda

Wikimedia Commons
Clarinda was the home of Iowa's third insane asylum. It opened in Clarinda, Iowa in1888 and accepted only male patients because the female wing wasn't complete at the time. In addition to art therapy, sports, movie nights, and more, Clarinda took a more modern "no bedlam" approach to mental illness, treating individuals as regular people with obstacles to overcome.
This 500,000-square-foot building has a gothic façade that retains the original architectural integrity. It is still in use as the Clarinda Treatment Center, both as a correctional campus and human services location. One ward contains a museum of the hospital's history and includes medical artifacts, tools, and furniture.
Clarinda, IA 51632, USA
The MN Gov. Council on Developmental Disabilities/YouTube
For a fascinating first-hand peek into daily life at both Clarinda and Independence, check out the interview below from 1952.

5. Cherokee Mental Health Institute, Cherokee

Cherokee Iowa Historic Preservation
When the state of Iowa needed a fourth asylum to relieve overcrowding in the other facilities, the town of Cherokee lobbied diligently for this building. The legislature granted their wish and the hospital opened in 1902.
In the first two weeks it was open, over 500 patients arrived by train from Independence and Clarinda. At its peak, there were more than 1,000 patients living here. This was a working farm and residents helped to produce the food they needed. Chickens, horses, cattle, pigs, sheep, and a large garden produced everything the facility needed to sustain itself.
Cherokee, IA 51012, USA
Allison/GoogleReviews
Today, the facility continues to treat a variety of patients.

While you won’t find any of these institutions on lists of abandoned asylums in Iowa, only a few of these facilities still operate as modern-day treatment hospitals. Have you ever toured any of these historical buildings?

Next, these historic towns in Iowa each offer some fantastic architecture, museums, and stories of their own. In fact, you’re sure to find a few historic homes to settle into for a weekend stay – and they’ll boast just as many creature comforts as they do historic touches!

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Asylums In Iowa

Jennifer | October 04, 2023

What are the most haunted places in Iowa?

If you're like us, corn fields during the spooky season have a hint of eeriness to them...but while Iowa has plenty of corn fields to its credit, our state has far more hiding up its sleeve. Like, otherworldly specters for instance. We make no guarantees that you'll bump elbows with a ghost, but you can indulge in some unsettling spookiness at these haunted places in Iowa:

  • Ashton Cemetery, Mingo
  • Edinburgh Manor, Scotch Grove
  • Hotel Blackhawk, Davenport
  • Independence State Hospital
  • Lovers Leap Bridge, Columbus Junction
  • Mason House Inn, Bentonsport
  • Mathias Ham House, Dubuque
  • Villisca Axe Murder House

 

Do note that some of these creepy spots may be private property. For even more spooky thrills, take this road trip to some of the state's most haunted places.

You can also read more about some of Iowa's real-life haunted houses or check out these photos and legends of Iowa's most chilling spots.

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