A visit to The Oregon Museum of Mental Health is not your average trip to the museum. This place is dedicated to telling the stories of the Oregon State Hospital and the people that have lived and worked here. A walk around the grounds and buildings will take you past a variety of interesting (and creepy) exhibits that you can’t find anywhere else. Take a look:

Located in Salem, the Oregon Museum of Mental Health was once the Oregon State Hospital, a facility that housed psychiatric patients.
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Built in 1883, the Oregon State Hospital is the oldest working psychiatric facility on the west coast.
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Today, the museum is open to the public and focuses on educating visitors about mental health and the patients who once lived behind these walls.
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In addition, this museum also played a starring role in the Academy Award-winning movie, One Flew Over The Cuckoo's Nest. Many exhibits feature fun nods to the famous film.
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The 2,500-square-foot museum walks visitors through not only the state-run hospital's checkered past, but also the history of psychiatry itself.
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One thing you can't miss is the memorial honoring 3,500 patients. Their remains were stored in copper canisters for decades in a small room at the hospital.
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A visit to this unique museum is an experience that every Oregonian should have.
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The museum is located at 2600 Center St. NE, Salem, OR 97301.

Have you paid a visit to the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health before? Please share any thoughts or photos you have from your experience in the comments below!

For more interesting experiences within the Beaver State, check out our previous article: This Oregon Restaurant Is the Highest In The Pacific Northwest. The Views Are Absolutely Stunning.

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