In the early 1800’s, Alabama established a psychiatric hospital in Tuscaloosa, but this facility did not open until 1861. Later it became known as Bryce Hospital and remained in operation until the early 2000’s.
Photo: "The Fall"
Inside a now demolished state hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Photo: "No Metal Objects"
Ward Rules posted inside a patient ward at the now demolished Bryce State Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
Photo: "Floating Quietly"
It's been quite a few months since I have set foot inside an abandoned asylum.
This particular one was beautiful. Loved the way the blue-green tiles let the color bounce around inside this medical ward.
Photo: "Patient Wing at Sunrise"
Inside one of the patient wings of a former Alabama State Hospital, at sunrise.
This asylum opened in 1861 and remained in operation for over 100 years. In 2010, the University of Alabama purchased the property and demolished most of the hospital's wings, keeping only the administration section of this historic relic.
Photo: "The Blues"
Lovely morning watching the sun rise from inside a former Alabama asylum.
During the first light of day, these walls told many stories. Though not always pleasant, the history here can only be explained by the paint on the walls and the breeze that blows in through an open window.
Photo: "On The Inside"
At least pretend you're missing me
when you lie in bed at night
closing your eyes
and whispering secrets
to the moonlight bouncing off your lips
as you say forever.
( Bryce State Hospital, Alabama )
Photo: "Inside An Isolation Cell"
Ever wonder what it would be like to be in seclusion, inside a psychiatric hospital? This room is designed as an isolation cell for patient's that suffered from the more problematic mental diseases or ones that rendered them dangerous to themselves or others.
The windows in the door gave the nurses a way to check on the patients. The top window gave a view of the full room and the lower window would give a nurse eyes on a patient who was hiding against the door.
Sadly, this asylum has since been demolished...
Photo: "Mallard"
Inside the dreams
created with you
were pastel sunsets
and crimson waves
of passion and desire
then tainted by your words
which now have stained my skies grey.
Photo: "The Halls"
Empty, abandoned asylums speak loudly, louder that most believe. There are stories within these walls; some tragic, some hopeful. I can only hope my images tell those stories.
Photo: "Salon"
Hair Salon inside the former Bryce State Hospital in Tuscaloosa, Alabama.
The administration section of the building were preserved, as part of an agreement with the University of Alabama, which purchased the property and building, but the late 1800's era wings were demolished in 2016.
Photo: "Isolation Room Shadows"
Daylight seeps into the hallway from one of the isolation rooms in this Alabama Asylum constructed in the late 1800's.
The shadows on the way are caused by slats in the doors of the isolation rooms. These slats allowed nurses to check on patients and also allow air flow into the room during very hot and humid summer months many years before air handling units were installed.
Photo: "First Sun Light"
The early morning sun breaks through the window of this Alabama asylum and lands on the crumbling wall of a day room in a patient wing.
Photo: "The Distance"
I wish architecture was still designed with the same attention to detail and ornamentation as it was back in the early 1900's.
Photo: "The Time Has Passed"
When this Alabama State Hospital was constructed in the late 1800's, there was no electricity and air conditioning. These doors, leading into patient rooms, contained slats to ventilate the room. At some point, likely in the early 1920's, the door slats were covered on the inside.
Sadly, this asylum has since been demolished.