In 1852, the U.S. congress appropriated $100,000 to establish an asylum for the mentally insane of the District of Columbia. Thus in 1852, St. Elizabeths was founded to provide "the most humane care and enlightened curative treatment" for members of the Army and Navy and residents of the District of Columbia. Soon after it opened it's doors to patients in 1855, it became known officially as the 'Government Hospital for he insane'. The West Lodge, which was originally built for male African-American patients was used during the Civil war as a general hospital for sick and wounded soldiers. The hospital, today is best known as the home of John Hinckley Jr, who attempted to assassinate President Ronald Reagan in 1981.
In Franklin Pierce's first annual address to congress, he expressed his high hopes for the hospital:
"The erection of an asylum for the insane of the District of Columbia and of the Army and Navy of the United States has been somewhat retarded by the great demand for materials and labor during the past summer, but full preparation for the reception of patients before the return of another winter is anticipated; and there is the best reason to believe, from the plan and contemplated arrangements which have been devised, with the large experience furnished within the last few years in relation to the nature and treatment of the disease, that it will prove an asylum indeed to this most helpless and afflicted class of sufferers and stand as a noble monument of wisdom and mercy."
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http://www.archives.gov/
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/4e/Center_building_at_Saint_Elizabeths%2C_National_Photo_Company%2C_circa_1909-1932.jpg
In 2010, St. Elizabeths Hospital moved into it's new $161 million facility.
http://www.washingtonpost.com/.../04/22/AR2010042204136.html
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