Northern Michigan Asylum, which opened in 1885, was known during most
of its years as Traverse City State Hospital. More than 200 photographs
and images are provided, including many of the features and buildings
long gone.
It was run during its first decades by Dr. James Decker Munson, who left
his legacy in the landscaped grounds and the medical center that today
bears his name. Traverse City State Hospital served the mental health
needs of a large part of Michigan for 104 years until its closure in
1989, housing a population as large as 3,000 in its many buildings.This
book traces the history of this great institution, from the local and
mental health context in which it was founded, through its growth,
development, and decline, and finally to its renovation and preservation
as a vital part of the Traverse City community.