OSH Musuem of Mental Health, Salem OR

Haunting, informative and so so necessary. The museum is PACKED with history, and though the museum isn’t massive, you could easily lose a couple hours combing through all the exhibit displays and information. The staff and docents are great.

There are stairs up to the main entrance (I did not see a ramp, unless I just missed it), but the stairs are much less than one flight and quite minimal. The memorial, however, is quite a ways away from the actual museum, with a bit of an incline in-between. Those with mobility issues would be smart to perhaps get dropped off and forego the walk over (though it is a ramp and not stairs all the way down).

If you visit the museum, you MUST visit the memorial with all the names and copper canisters. I am happy a place to remember all those who have passed (along with the empty canister to represent those not individually named on the wall) was built. It is a powerful experience to visit and see - both the museum and memorial down the hill.

It’s painful to see how slow progress “progresses”… but it does. And though some of the information is very difficult to consume, I dare to say I still left with the aftertaste of hope. Informing our current world with a deeper understanding of our history is so very important. Definitely recommend.

Having started my working life in mental health it was fascinating today to visit this museum housed in the original hospital for "insane, idiots and indigent people. It was a model for humane treatment of the mentally ill and was considered a leader in the USA for treating mentally ill people compassionately. It had 3,500 patients as it grew. I am staying with friends in a new community built on the site of a second facility housing the feeble minded, transferred from the main facility. It closed with the devolution of this population to group homes last century but some of the buildings remain.
The current hospital houses 500 mainly forensic patients sentenced or waiting to be assessed fot to stand trial
It was a serendipitous occasion and reminded me of much in my early career.
Oh almost forgot to mention this was the location where One Flew Over the Cuckoos Nest was filmed and included staff and patients in the movie.

It's somewhat grim, but not because of the exhibits per se. It's the tragic reality of the institution

They have turned a small part of the big old mental hospital into an excellent museum. The history of the museum goes back to 1844. They were able to select from a large selection of artifacts in the basement. The movie One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest was filmed here and the museum devotes a corner to that.

Very interesting displays and narrative. Worth going through to learn the history of mental health care in Oregon.

Worth every penny and truly a living history museum. We met the Doctor's daughter! She was very informative and accepting. Good place to learn about yesteryear in Salem, and in Mental Health in general:)

It was a fun experience to see a major side of salem that most people don't know about. If you enjoy history this is a must see.

Great museum. It's very interesting to see the evolution of psychiatric treatment over 100 years. The One Flew Over A Cuckoo's Nest section is pretty neat as well.

The staff were very friendly and gave us a run down of the history of the hospital and the past practices. It was fun and very informative.

People who work in the museum are very knowledgeable and direct relatives of main characters in classy "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest". Exposition is captivating, plan some time to review and study abundance of materials on display.

I wish it was bigger. It was small. I think the price should be 3 bucks. They should at least show you more of the building.