My husband and I decided to visit the Glore Psychiatric Museum. There are a few different museums in the building. There was a Native American Section which was very interesting. The psychiatric hospital detailed ways they used to deal with mental illness. I don't know why psychiatrists used to think electro shock therapy or lobotomies were a humane way of dealing with mental illness. The cages they would put these poor people in was horrific. They also have crafts some patients made while committed to the hospital on display. We thought it was a very interesting place and I would recommend you stop by if you're in the area.
Some of the ways our forefathers treated the mentally ill were creepy if not horrid: chair cages that spin; cold baths; straight jackets, lobotomies. This place may be fine for teenagers and adults but if you have any children under 6, don't bring them. However, this is like no other museum you will ever see and it is worth the trip. If you look around the grounds you will see buildings that once were parts of a mental hospital; the current hospital is across the street and much more modern than the old boxy red brick buildings with the dark, square windows, one of which has been turned into a prison...which might be appropriate given what the museum shows were once treatments. Other former mental hospital buildings now house the school district's administration offices.
We actually toured the Glore Museum on a trip a few years ago. It is full of information and equipment that was used very early on in psychiatry. Some of it is unsettling, and it is not a good tour for children. I found it fascinating.
The museum, was actually a very comprehensive overview of the the history of treatment of mental disorders. If this interests you - Go! For me, it a bit creepy and sometimes depressing.
Entry into psychiatric museum gets you into a three other museums in same building. The cost is low, especially if you use a groupon like we did. We didn't go into the doll museum but all the others were fascinating. I took my teenage son and he enjoyed it. Great visit.
Interesting and unique museum but a reminder that even not that long ago mental illness was treated with barbaric medieval methods. Many displays could've been props for the "One flew over the cuckoo's nest".
Interesting, but a little creepy at the same time. I learned a lot about we used to treat the mentally ill, some things were quite barbaric by today's standards.
This is a rare experience! Actual models of things that were used to treat mental illness over the last approximately 100 years. Very well done! Not your run of the mill museum! If you are anywhere close, I encourage you to visit. Its not far off the interstate and on the same street as the exit ramp. Easy to find. Good traveling!
We visited a few years ago and I can't wait to go back lots of history not just medical history they also have a nice native American history area. Lots of interesting displays very educational but not boring
This museum had a very surreal feel to it. I felt as if I kept wanting to see more of it but, wasn't I really wanted to. Very sobering to think of psychiatric treatments of the past.