Asylum Roadshow
Get Involved in Local History
Decker Munson, MD, seated far right, with leadership of the Northern Michigan
Asylum. (Photo courtesy Traverse Area Historical Society)
A History Lost and Now Found
Did you ever wonder what happened to all the objects or materials inside the buildings at Traverse City’s Northern Michigan Asylum when the last section closed in 1989? We know there was an auction where many objects were sold, and the state archives in Lansing hold many remnants from the hospital. But consider: for 104 years the hospital was filled with hundreds of individuals—patients, administrators, nurses, maintenance and grounds workers. As the main buildings and residences were shuttered, many people who were not affiliated with the hospital wandered through the campus. Outside of the authorized auction many objects were removed as keepsakes, for preservation, curiosity, or sale.
The Friends of the Historic Commons (501c3 nonprofit) works to preserve the history and cultural significance of the hospital and its extensive grounds.
Northern Michigan Asylum for the Insane, Laundry Room. Photo Courtesy The Northern Michigan Historical Society, Traverse City.
Documenting & Sharing Local Treasures
The Friends of the Historic Commons is sponsoring The Asylum Road Show and we need your help! Who has stories to tell about their experiences or those of family members at the Traverse City State Hospital? Do you have objects, documents, photographs or images that support the stories that are a part of the buildings and operations of the State Hospital? The 100+ year history is long and complex, involving a diversity of people, ideas, nature, and objects, much of which has been forgotten or lost.
Our goal is to seek out those who may recall their own experiences or stories from neighbors or have objects held in attics or garages or basements that help fill in some of the spaces in that State Hospital history. Every piece will expand what we know about the people who worked or lived or visited there. Please come and share your knowledge with us and the community. Visit our table at the Grand Traverse Commons Saturday Village Farmers Market to learn more about the Asylum Road Show. We will be there on Saturday, February 17 from 10am-2pm. Come visit us.
Sign Up to Meet Up!
Share Your Story
Do you have a memory of the State Hospital to share? Use this form to schedule a visit with a Friends representative make your story a part of our story.
Share the Rich History
Please use this form to sign up for a time to visit with a Friends representative and share your objects to be photographed and catalogued with the option to loan the item to the Friends for future exhibits on the Village grounds.
