If you are a Colorado native, you may think you have seen everything there is to see and have visited every place there is to visit, but did you know that the Centennial State is home to an insane asylum museum? We didn’t either, but we happen to think the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo Museum is quite the hidden gem and one of the best museums in Colorado.
Welcome to the incredibly eerie yet fascinating Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo Museum.
Located in the former Superintendent's Residence, the Colorado Mental Health Institute is on a mission to "collect, preserve, interpret and exhibit artifacts and archives from the Mental Health Institute (formerly Colorado State Hospital)," making it one of the most unique museums in the state.
When you visit, you will get an inside look at this once-bustling hospital that was founded in 1879 and, at its peak, housed a whopping 6,000+ patients.
Thankfully, mental health treatment has changed drastically between 1879 and now. However, you can still see what the practice once looked like via the displayed electroshock therapy equipment and straight jackets.
In addition to these more unsettling exhibits, the Museum also features antique records and photos, a stunning 1920s master time clock, and other fascinating artifacts.
To learn more about the Colorado Mental Health Institute at Pueblo Museum - including hours of operation and special events - please visit their website.
