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{{NRIS-onlyMore citations needed|date=DecemberMay 20132010}}
{{Refimprove|date=May 2010}}
{{Infobox NRHP
| name = Central Kentucky Lunatic Asylum
| nrhp_type = =
| image = =
| caption = =
| nearest_city = [[Anchorage, Kentucky]] vicinity
| coordinates = {{coord|38|16|41|N|85|33|18|W|display=inline,title}}
| lat_degrees = 38
| locmapin = Kentucky#USA▼
| lat_minutes = 16
| built = 1874▼
| lat_seconds = 41
| architect = =▼
| lat_direction = N
| architecture = Classical Revival, Tudor Revival▼
| long_degrees = 85
| added = July 12, 1983▼
| long_minutes = 33
| area = less than one acre▼
| long_seconds = 18
| mpsub = {{NRHP url|id=64000231|title=Jefferson County MRA}}
| long_direction = W
| refnum = 83002646<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>▼
| coord_display = inline,title
▲ | locmapin = Kentucky
▲ | built = 1874
▲ | architect =
▲ | architecture = Classical Revival, Tudor Revival
▲ | added = July 12, 1983
▲ | area = less than one acre
| governing_body = State
| mpsub = [http://pdfhost.focus.nps.gov/docs/NRHP/Text/64000231.pdf Jefferson County MRA]
▲ | refnum = 83002646<ref name="nris">{{NRISref|2009a}}</ref>
}}
'''Central State Hospital''' is a 192-bed adult [[psychiatric hospital]] located in the [[Lakeland, Louisville|Lakeland]] neighborhood of [[Louisville, Kentucky]].
'''Central State Hospital''' is a 192-bed adult [[psychiatric hospital]] located in eastern [[Louisville, Kentucky|Louisville-Jefferson County, Kentucky]]. In 1869, land was bought from the Hite family, from the same original grant that would become nearby [[Anchorage, Kentucky]]. It was built on Lakeland Drive on the outskirts of Anchorage and it initially housed the "Home for Juvenile Delinquents at Lakeland". In 1873, it was converted into the state's fourth lunatic asylum and renamed '''Central Kentucky Lunatic Asylum'''. In late 1887, it was given its own post office, known simply as "Asylum", but early the next year the post office name was changed to "Lakeland" and it was commonly referred to as "Lakeland Hospital" or "Lakeland Asylum". By 1900, its official name was changed to '''Central Kentucky Asylum for the Insane'''. Later it became known as Central State Hospital. Comparable institutions are Eastern State Hospital at Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky, and Western State Hospital at Hopkinsville in Christian County, Kentucky. ▼
 
==History==
The secluded, rural setting was typical of such facilities in the late 19th century, as such an environment was thought to be beneficial for recovery from mental illness. However, not all patients had mental disorders - some suffered from brain damage, mental retardation or were simply poor or elderly. The early decades of the 1900s were marked by repeated allegations of abuse and malfeasance. Deaths went unreported and uninvestigated, and records were lost. It is unknown how many deceased patients are buried on the hospital grounds. Though built for 1,600 patients, by 1940 there were 2,400. However, starting in the 1950s, changing community perception of the mentally disturbed, led to fewer patients staying permanently in mental hospitals, and the average stay at the facility was two weeks by the 1990s.
 
▲'''CentralIn State1869, Hospital'''200 isacres awere 192-bedpurchased adultby [[psychiatricthe hospital]]Kentucky locatedState inLegislature easternfrom [[Louisville,the Kentucky|Louisville-Jeffersondescendants County,of Kentucky]].renown Infrontiersman 1869,Issac landHite wasto boughtestablish froma the"State HiteHouse family,of fromReform thefor sameJuvenile originalDelinquents." grantThis thatwas located on the outskirts of what would become nearby [[Anchorage, Kentucky]]. ItIn was1873, builtdue onto Lakelandovercrowding Driveat onboth of Kentucky's mental hospitals, the outskirtsHouse of AnchorageReform andwas itconverted initially housedinto the "Home'''Fourth forKentucky JuvenileLunatic DelinquentsAsylum''', atwith Lakeland"Dr. InC.C. 1873,Forbes itas wasits convertedfirst intoSuperintendent. theThe state'sfollowing fourthyear lunatican asylumact andof the legislature renamed it the '''Central Kentucky Lunatic Asylum'''. In late 1887, it was givenreceived its own post office, knowncalled simply as "Asylum",. butThe early the nextfollowing year the post officeits name was changed to "Lakeland", and itthe institution was commonly referred to as "Lakeland Hospital" or "Lakeland Asylum". By 1900, its official name washad been changed to the '''Central Kentucky Asylum for the Insane'''. LaterBy 1912 it becamewas known as Central State Hospital. Comparable institutions are Eastern State Hospital at Lexington in Fayette County, Kentucky, and Western State Hospital at Hopkinsville in, Christian County, Kentucky. All three were administered by the Board of Charitable Organizations.
In 1986, a new modern facility was completed on grounds adjacent to Lagrange Road, and the old buildings were abandoned. Though it flirted with privatization in the 1970s, it is publicly operated today.
 
The secluded, rural setting was typical of such facilities in the late 19th century, as such an environment was thought to be beneficial for recovery from mental illness. However, not all patients had mental disorders - some suffered from brain damage, mental retardation or were simply poor or elderly. The early years of the 1880s were marked by repeated allegations of patient abuse. In 1879, Dr. Robert H. Gale was appointed superintendent.<ref>Anchorage Asylum, The South Kentuckian (Hopkinsville, Kentucky) September 23, 1879, page 2, accessed October 20, 2016 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7101914/anchorage_asylum_the_south_kentuckian/</ref> In 1882, conduct was investigated in the "ducking" or near drowning death of a patient. He was later exonerated of the charges.<ref>Murderous Maddox, The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) September 28, 1882, page 5, accessed October 20, 2016 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7101818/murderous_maddox_the_courierjournal/</ref> Gale was followed by H. K. Pusey in 1884.<ref>Anchorage Asylum, The Courier-Journal (Louisville, Kentucky) April 16, 1884, page 8, accessed October 20, 2016 at https://www.newspapers.com/clip/7102165/anchorage_asylum_the_courierjournal/</ref>
 
Throughout Central States history, the institution suffered from improper funding, understaffing, and overcrowding. Though built to accommodate 1,600 patients, by 1940 there were in excess of 2,400 patients and again various accusations of patient mistreatment began to arise. However, starting in the 1950s, changing community perception of the mentally disturbed led to fewer patients staying permanently in mental hospitals. In 1962, $3,000,000 was allowed by the state to construct more modern facilities on LaGrange Road. Many of these are still standing.
 
In 1986, a new modern administration facility was completed on property adjacent to the 1960s buildings. The original hospital and surviving structures on what was called "the North Campus" were subsequently abandoned and demolished in the late 1990s.
 
It is unknown how many deceased patients are buried on the hospital grounds, though over 900 death certificates exist denoting burial in both of the hospitals cemeteries.
 
==See also==
* [[National Register of Historic Places listings in Anchorage, Kentucky]]
 
==References==
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==External links==
* [http://www.asylumprojects.org/index.php?title=Central_State_Hospital_Louisville Asylum Projects website information and history on CSH]
* [https://kyhi.org/asylums/central-state-hospital/ Central State Hospital - Kentucky Historic Institutions]
 
{{National Register of Historic Places}}
{{Kirkbride Plan}}
 
{{authority control}}
 
[[Category:Hospital buildings completed in 1874]]
[[Category:Neoclassical architecture in Kentucky]]
[[Category:Buildings19th-century buildings and structures in Louisville, Kentucky]]
[[Category:Infrastructure in Louisville, Kentucky]]▼
[[Category:Psychiatric hospitals in Kentucky]]
[[Category:National Register of Historic Places in Jefferson CountyLouisville, Kentucky]]
[[Category:BuildingsHospital and structuresbuildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Kentucky]]
[[Category:1874 establishments in Kentucky]]
▲[[Category:InfrastructureHospitals in Louisville, Kentucky]]
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