Oregon State Hospital - Museum of Mental Health
Oregon State Hospital - Museum of Mental Health
4.5
Tuesday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Wednesday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Thursday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Friday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Saturday
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
About
Located in the historic Kirkbride building built in 1883, the Oregon State Hospital is the oldest working psychiatric facility on the west coast. The OSH Museum is a non-profit, volunteer-run business that provides a fascinating look into the past practices and history of mental health in Oregon. As a self-guided tour, you will be able to explore 2500 Square Feet of exhibits at your own pace and engage in interactive displays. The museum is open: Tuesdays 12pm -4pm, Wednesdays 12pm-4pm, Thursdays 12pm-4pm, Fridays 12pm - 4pm and Saturdays 12pm - 4pm Admission: General: $5.00 Seniors(65+): $4.00 and Students:$4.00, children under 10 are free with an adult)
Suggested duration
1-2 hours
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Detailed Reviews: Reviews order informed by descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as cleanliness, atmosphere, general tips and location information.
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4.5
74 reviews
Excellent
40
Very good
28
Average
4
Poor
1
Terrible
1
harryatkck
Kansas City, KS936 contributions
Aug 2021
I have only been to one other museum similar to this in my life & I am glad I came here. This museum tells the story of the state mental hospital that used to be here. While all of the different types of treatment used on the patients were well displayed & explained, the museum did a great job of telling the stories of many individuals that were patients here. By the time I left, I felt that I had a great understanding of how the mental health system here used to work & how many of the people who stayed here felt. If you are in Salem, you must come here.
Written August 29, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Tami R
Salem, OR8 contributions
Jun 2020
This little museum was put together with a lot of thought and care. Displayed are histories of patients, treatments, and medical instruments along with displays of local history, patient rooms, and a section showcasing bits from the movie, "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest." (We visited in 2017, but the drop down menu did not go back that far...)
Written May 23, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
TAMAN1951
Liberty Lake, WA6,006 contributions
May 2022 • Couples
Whole new spin on “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest”. Great seeing genuine artifacts from the facility. Patients actually participated in the movie.
Staff is great and one of the ladies lived on the property while her dad was director- what insight.
Much more than we thought.
Well worth the time to visit.
Staff is great and one of the ladies lived on the property while her dad was director- what insight.
Much more than we thought.
Well worth the time to visit.
Written May 20, 2022
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
altonjk
Bakersfield, CA463 contributions
Jul 2021
Love the movie "One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest" so was nice to go see the hospital it was filmed at. Very nice Museum to visit, to read about the stuff that went on there was interesting. What we didn't know back in the days and what they do now. It is still a State Hospital, wish California would have kept their State Hospitals, it wouldn't be in as bad of shape as it is now.
Written July 19, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Eric S
Salem, Oregon, United States62 contributions
Apr 2013 • Solo
This is THE place for history buffs. They tell the whole story, including the mass poisonings of patients, electroshock therapy, castration of gays, sterilization of epileptics. But also the provision of "asylum" for people otherwise shunned by society. This isn't Disneyland: you have to read and study the exhibits to appreciate what's here. The museum board is independent of the Hospital, so you can believe what you read. This is a must see for history buffs and folks who want to learn the history of American psychiatric care.
Written March 13, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Hgtravl
Marlton, NJ1,528 contributions
Oct 2014 • Friends
I have been wanting to visit OSH Museum for over a year now, I finally was able to get out to Oregon and visit, it was worth it.
This is a museum on the active Oregon State Hospital campus. When pulling into the campus, signs will direct you to where you need to go, it is very easy to navigate to. The cost to get inside is so cheap, and worth every penny, it is only $4.00 a person.
Once you pay at the main desk, you can walk around on the floor, going into different rooms. There are alot of displays and plenty of reading info to learn about the history of this mental hospital. You can view old photographs, and see old medical items that where used within the hospital itself. We walked around the museum part for a good solid hour.
After you visit the museum part, do make sure you visit the memorial part. When coming out of the museum, take a left, and walk down to the memorial. It contains thousands of cremated remains of patients dating back from the 1800s. Almost all of them are unclaimed, and waiting for family members to claim their remains. The memorial is very well thought out, and we spent a good 30 minutes standing there taking in the powerful display of more than 2,000 actual patients of this mental hospital that are unclaimed.
This is a museum on the active Oregon State Hospital campus. When pulling into the campus, signs will direct you to where you need to go, it is very easy to navigate to. The cost to get inside is so cheap, and worth every penny, it is only $4.00 a person.
Once you pay at the main desk, you can walk around on the floor, going into different rooms. There are alot of displays and plenty of reading info to learn about the history of this mental hospital. You can view old photographs, and see old medical items that where used within the hospital itself. We walked around the museum part for a good solid hour.
After you visit the museum part, do make sure you visit the memorial part. When coming out of the museum, take a left, and walk down to the memorial. It contains thousands of cremated remains of patients dating back from the 1800s. Almost all of them are unclaimed, and waiting for family members to claim their remains. The memorial is very well thought out, and we spent a good 30 minutes standing there taking in the powerful display of more than 2,000 actual patients of this mental hospital that are unclaimed.
Written October 27, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
mozecuse
Salem, OR106 contributions
Aug 2014 • Solo
Where else do you get a mental hospital museum? And it is not all "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", but that is the main draw. Interesting displays of life in the system
Written March 20, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
subjectsierra
Toronto, Canada36 contributions
Dec 2016 • Couples
The exhibits were all educational and really cool to see. They had old medical equipment mixed in with a lot of history that was really cool to see. The volunteers are really happy to answer any questions you have and to tell you more about the property and history. It took about an hour to see/read/absorb everything and is close to everything so it's really easy to pop in for a quick visit. There's also a memorial outside just down the drive that is worth seeing as well.
Written December 5, 2016
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
alpw
Placitas, NM2,127 contributions
Sep 2015 • Friends
On our annual trip, my girlfriend suggested this museum as a possible visit. I was not sure about it, but when I read that the movie "One Who Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest", I decided to do it.
The history of mental illness and this facility itself is on display here. Some good, some not so good. The most moving part of this museum are the canisters. The are hundreds of canisters filled with the unclaimed ashes of patients. There is a video of these canisters and the photographer who brought these to light. The canisters are located in a separate building.
The history of mental illness and this facility itself is on display here. Some good, some not so good. The most moving part of this museum are the canisters. The are hundreds of canisters filled with the unclaimed ashes of patients. There is a video of these canisters and the photographer who brought these to light. The canisters are located in a separate building.
Written September 7, 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
BigChickenDinner
Salem, OR93 contributions
What a cool museum. Does a great job of telling the history of mental health and giving background about the movie One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest. Doesn't pull any punches about how people were treated in the late 1800s and first half of the 1900s. Pretty sobering and uplifting at the same time. Treatment has come a long way since the early days of the OSH but still has further to go of course. The really amazing thing is all of the cremated remains that are still kept on the property, waiting for someone to claim them. That was my favorite exhibit there. Don't miss it!
Written June 10, 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews.
Jenn Garysdotter
Veneta, OR124 contributions
How big of a group can visit? I’ll have like a group of 15( including kids).
MadrugadaMistral
Beaverton, OR87 contributions
I'm sure they would be delighted to host a group that size; the docents and other staff seem very happy to have visitors. I think you should call first though.
Sheryl B
Yorktown Heights7 contributions
Does the museum have a gift shop
Yes, a small one. There are a number of interesting books, post cards and note cards, and watch caps like the one Jack Nicholson wore in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest. Memberships make great gifts as well.
How much does it cost to take a tour? And how do i set one up?
JoeA336
Norwalk, CA356 contributions
They don't have tours. It is a small museum and general admission is 4 dollars. The acutal hospital isn't available to the general public. The museum is built inside of the hospital. No tour is needed because the displays are large, easy to read, & displayed well in each exhibit. It is a hidden gem.
Rock P
Roseburg, OR4 contributions
What are the hours the State Mental Hospital is open
Sera M
Salem, Oregon, United States
Tuesday, Friday and Saturday 12-4.
Oregon State Hospital - Museum of Mental Health (Salem) - All You Need to Know BEFORE You Go
Frequently Asked Questions about Oregon State Hospital - Museum of Mental Health
- Oregon State Hospital - Museum of Mental Health is open:
- Tue - Sat 12:00 PM - 4:00 PM
- Hotels near Oregon State Hospital - Museum of Mental Health:
- (1.10 mi) Hampton Inn & Suites Salem
- (1.29 mi) Best Western Plus Mill Creek Inn
- (1.76 mi) The Grand Hotel in Salem
- (0.88 mi) Century House of Salem Bed and Breakfast
- (0.99 mi) DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Salem, Oregon
- Restaurants near Oregon State Hospital - Museum of Mental Health:
- (0.79 mi) Word of Mouth
- (0.53 mi) Sybil's Omelettes
- (0.65 mi) Patty's Off-Center Cafe
- (1.72 mi) Wild Pear
- (0.59 mi) La Fondita