11 Abandoned Hospitals And Asylums Guaranteed To Give You Chills

2. Richardson Olmsted Complex (Buffalo State Asylum): Architectural Grandeur and Decay

Buffalo, New York, hosts the magnificent Richardson Olmsted Complex, formerly the Buffalo State Asylum for the Insane. Designed by renowned architect H.H. Richardson with grounds by Frederick Law Olmsted (of Central Park fame), this Kirkbride Plan hospital opened in 1880. Its Medina sandstone buildings represent a masterpiece of American architecture. While parts of the sprawling complex have been beautifully restored and repurposed into a hotel and architecture center, other wings remain untouched, slowly decaying. Exploring the contrast between the restored grandeur and the hauntingly abandoned sections offers a powerful look at architectural preservation and the evolution of mental healthcare.