If you drove by the Montana State Hospital today, you probably wouldn’t give it a second look. A plain, modern building sits next to a sign directing guests to the visitors’ entrance or to Admissions, and nothing about it really stands out upon first glance. But as Montana’s first and longest-running publicly operated psychiatric hospital, it’s got a long, complex history. Few people know the sordid tale behind this Montana State Hospital horror story… but now you will.
Montana State Hospital was founded by the territorial government in 1877, 12 years before Montana became a state. It’s more commonly known as Warm Springs, and you’ll find it in an unincorporated community in Deer Lodge County.
JCHaywire / Flickr
In 1924, Montana State Hospital made headlines when it was discovered that 11 inmates had been forcibly sterilized. Hospital staff reported that all sterilizations had been approved and that eugenics was necessary for Montana’s future. A total of 256 people were sterilized by Montana’s eugenics program from 1923 until 1954.
Jarle Naustvik / Flickr
By the 1950s, Warm Springs was Montana’s biggest incorporated community. There were around 2,000 patients, barns for chickens, cattle, and a greenhouse.
Montanabw/Wikipedia
Montana State Hospital consists of a historic hospital building and more modern facilities.
Montanabw/Wikipedia These days, the average population is around 200. The patients are largely placed there by civil court commitment action, meaning involuntary. Earlier this year, a new facility opened in Galen to help with overcrowding.
There are two cemeteries onsite marking the graves of the patients who never left.
Spend a Day Touring, LLC / Flickr
What do you think? Have you seen the Warm Springs asylum in Montana? What do you think about this eerie Montana State Hospital horror story? Tell us your thoughts in the comments; we love hearing from you.
JCHaywire / Flickr
Jarle Naustvik / Flickr
Montanabw/Wikipedia
These days, the average population is around 200. The patients are largely placed there by civil court commitment action, meaning involuntary. Earlier this year, a new facility opened in Galen to help with overcrowding.
Spend a Day Touring, LLC / Flickr
For more of the most haunted places in Montana, check out this epic haunted places in Montana road trip… if you dare! Of course, haunt at your own risk… you never know what you’ll encounter.
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Address: Montana State Hospital, 300 Garnet Way, Warm Springs, MT 59756, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Montana State Hospital Horror Story August 10, 2022 Tori Jane Is the Montana State Hospital haunted? The Montana State Hospital is a facility with an extensive and dark history, thanks to its age and the poor decisions and practices of bygone decades. In 1924, there was controversy when it was discovered that 11 patients had been forcibly sterilized against their own wills, and in future years it would be found that, between the years 1923 and 1954, more than 250 patients were forcibly sterilized in a eugenics program. Folks here died from mistreatment and abuse occasionally, and to this day, the local kids like to claim the place is haunted. This is one of those things nobody knows for sure… but we wouldn’t be surprised, nonetheless. What are some of the most haunted places in Montana? Montana is a state with lots of history, and part of that history is a little dark in some spots. As a result, we’ve got our fair share of alleged hauntings and scary places. Some of our favorite haunted places in Montana (or so they say) include spots like the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, which is said to be haunted by numerous restless spirits (including Colonel Custer himself, who seems interested in the visitors’ center). In Deer Lodge, the old prison is said to be plagued by the dead, and in Billings stands the beautiful and spooky Moss Mansion. When it comes to creepy places in Montana, there is no shortage – that’s for sure. Is there any truth to the Montana State Hospital ghost stories? We don’t know, but they are lots of fun to think about. Asylums and hospitals have a very spooky vibe to them in general; throw in urban legends about the tortured souls of the damned wandering the halls and you have a veritable myth that might just propagate itself over the decades. There have been whispers about hauntings at Montana State Hospital, which is still in operation today despite its sordid past (and continued reports of mistreatment of patients), and until there’s a formal investigation into the alleged paranormal happenings, we won’t know – but it is entertaining to speculate.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Montana State Hospital Horror Story
August 10, 2022
Tori Jane
Is the Montana State Hospital haunted? The Montana State Hospital is a facility with an extensive and dark history, thanks to its age and the poor decisions and practices of bygone decades. In 1924, there was controversy when it was discovered that 11 patients had been forcibly sterilized against their own wills, and in future years it would be found that, between the years 1923 and 1954, more than 250 patients were forcibly sterilized in a eugenics program. Folks here died from mistreatment and abuse occasionally, and to this day, the local kids like to claim the place is haunted. This is one of those things nobody knows for sure… but we wouldn’t be surprised, nonetheless. What are some of the most haunted places in Montana? Montana is a state with lots of history, and part of that history is a little dark in some spots. As a result, we’ve got our fair share of alleged hauntings and scary places. Some of our favorite haunted places in Montana (or so they say) include spots like the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, which is said to be haunted by numerous restless spirits (including Colonel Custer himself, who seems interested in the visitors’ center). In Deer Lodge, the old prison is said to be plagued by the dead, and in Billings stands the beautiful and spooky Moss Mansion. When it comes to creepy places in Montana, there is no shortage – that’s for sure. Is there any truth to the Montana State Hospital ghost stories? We don’t know, but they are lots of fun to think about. Asylums and hospitals have a very spooky vibe to them in general; throw in urban legends about the tortured souls of the damned wandering the halls and you have a veritable myth that might just propagate itself over the decades. There have been whispers about hauntings at Montana State Hospital, which is still in operation today despite its sordid past (and continued reports of mistreatment of patients), and until there’s a formal investigation into the alleged paranormal happenings, we won’t know – but it is entertaining to speculate.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The Montana State Hospital is a facility with an extensive and dark history, thanks to its age and the poor decisions and practices of bygone decades. In 1924, there was controversy when it was discovered that 11 patients had been forcibly sterilized against their own wills, and in future years it would be found that, between the years 1923 and 1954, more than 250 patients were forcibly sterilized in a eugenics program. Folks here died from mistreatment and abuse occasionally, and to this day, the local kids like to claim the place is haunted. This is one of those things nobody knows for sure… but we wouldn’t be surprised, nonetheless.
What are some of the most haunted places in Montana?
Montana is a state with lots of history, and part of that history is a little dark in some spots. As a result, we’ve got our fair share of alleged hauntings and scary places. Some of our favorite haunted places in Montana (or so they say) include spots like the Little Bighorn Battlefield National Monument, which is said to be haunted by numerous restless spirits (including Colonel Custer himself, who seems interested in the visitors’ center). In Deer Lodge, the old prison is said to be plagued by the dead, and in Billings stands the beautiful and spooky Moss Mansion. When it comes to creepy places in Montana, there is no shortage – that’s for sure.
Is there any truth to the Montana State Hospital ghost stories?
We don’t know, but they are lots of fun to think about. Asylums and hospitals have a very spooky vibe to them in general; throw in urban legends about the tortured souls of the damned wandering the halls and you have a veritable myth that might just propagate itself over the decades. There have been whispers about hauntings at Montana State Hospital, which is still in operation today despite its sordid past (and continued reports of mistreatment of patients), and until there’s a formal investigation into the alleged paranormal happenings, we won’t know – but it is entertaining to speculate.
