The Historic Philosophy of Munson State Hospital and the Commons

We often hear about the 'Kirkbride' buildings, but that is just one piece of the "Kirkbride Plan" which Dr. Munson and a number of other asylum hospital administrators followed. The Kirkbride Plan outlined the preferred building architecture, but also a philosophy of patient care, including activities for patients. The Kirkbride Plan stressed the value of nature and outdoor experiences for patients and "advocated for the importance of 'fertile' and spacious landscapes on which the hospitals would be built." It recommended a minimum of 100 acres for hospital grounds that could be used for physical exercise and therapy, those acres planted with trees and shrubs and flowers that would be beautiful and therapeutic. You can see that in Dr. Munson's creation of the arboretum, womens' and mens' walks, emphasis on gardens and greenhouses, etc.