Northern State Hospital

Located in the foggy woods of Sedro-Woolley, Washington, Northern State Hospital was once the largest mental institution in the state, besides the Old Western State Hospital.  The hospital opened in 1909 and was designed by the renowned Olmsted Brothers, the same architects who brought us New York’s Central Park. It was built to be a self-contained colony, with 700 acres of farmland, a dairy plant, a lumber mill, and even a bakery.

As years went on, controversy over asylums in general began to swell throughout the country. People heard about the brutal history of the hospital and began fighting for better rights for the mentally ill. In 1976, the Washington State Legislature cut off all funding, and the Northern State Hospital closed permanently.

Can you visit the hospital today? According to the Northern State Hospital website, “Northern State Hospital is part of the SWIFT Center, owned and operated by the Port of Skagit County. The former NSH farm is owned by Skagit County Parks. Visitors are welcome at the farm and along Hub Drive during daylight hours. Follow signs and stay on the historic route. Access to the inside of buildings is prohibited.”

“Northern State Hospital is part of the SWIFT Center, owned and operated by the Port of Skagit County. The former NSH farm is owned by Skagit County Parks. Visitors are welcome at the farm and along Hub Drive during daylight hours. Follow signs and stay on the historic route. Access to the inside of buildings is prohibited.”

Is the Northern State Hospital Haunted?

Despite its beautiful setting, Northern State Hospital had a dark and sinister side. Known as being one of the more humane hospitals of its time, patients may have still been subjected to lobotomies, heavy sedation, and electroshock therapy. Many of the patients shouldn’t have ever been admitted to the hospital, some were struggling with common conditions like depression, post-menopausal syndrome, and alcoholism.

Dairy Barn Building at Northern State Hospital

Many of these patients died while in the hospital’s care, but too many were never claimed by their families, leaving the hospital to cremate the patients’ remains.  Hundreds of patients’ ashes were found stored in tin cans, each with their numbers. These remains were eventually buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery. Almost 1500 patients were buried in the 1.5-acre cemetery on the hospital grounds.

Visitors have reported experiencing some pretty strange paranormal phenomena. Feelings of being followed, cold spots, and voices are all common occurrences. Some people have even seen strange shadows creeping around the cemetery.

The most common spirits are a young girl with a red ball and an older man chasing after her. Some have seen them running through the hospital, and others have spotted them in the cemetery.