The Former Northern State Hospital
Northern State Hospital, in Sedro Wooley, was a unique place. It opened as a mental health hospital in 1912, after the Western State Hospital became chronically overcrowded. For sixty years it was the home of adults with severe mental illness.
The Olmstead Brothers, who designed 37 of Seattle’s parks and playgrounds, designed the landscape, and architects Saunders and Lawton designed the buildings. They worked in close collaboration with the hospital’s farm superintendent to create a self-sustaining outpost for the mentally ill. The hospital site included patient and staff housing, a water reservoir, sewage system, lumber mill, quarry, steam plant, greenhouse, canning facilities, gymnasium, library, laundry, dining room, bakery, dairy, a 700-acre farm for growing vegetables and raising livestock, and a cemetery. Caring for livestock and poultry, and caring for gardens were some of the ways patients received occupational therapy.
There were close to 80 buildings on the 300 acre site where tens of thousands of patients had received care from 1912 until its closure in 1972. At the center of the campus the 100,000 square feet hospital building highlights Spanish Colonial Revival architectural design, which is predominant throughout the site.
Beginning in the 1920’s unusual incidents began to occur. The hospital was faced with allegations of patient abuse and several patient deaths. And, in the 1980’s various strange discoveries were made that raised questions about the way patients were handled after their deaths. Of the tens of thousands patients cared for at the hospital between 1913 and its closure in 1972, close to 1500 patients died. Many of the patients were buried on the hospital’s cemetery grounds, and not all of them had markers with any type of identification. It wasn’t until 2023 that death records became available. There are currently several projects taking place to identify patients buried in the cemetery.
Entry to three of the former hospital buildings, apparently untouched for many years, are off limits to visitors for now. Parts of the buildings are choked by blackberry bushes and many of the windows are broken, often seeming to be intentional. Many of the broken windows display beautifully in their destruction on their own or viewing through them. With so much glass and so many buildings, there are multitudes of opportunities to see reflections.- whether in windows or in puddles.
In 2011 the Northern State Hospital achieved listing on the National Register for Historic District. What remains and are open to the public are the stunningly large trees including pines and willows, and sprawling lawns framed by surrounding hills — scenery that for decades has been enjoyed by all who have lived, worked and visited there.
The farm property, including a comprehensive system of trails, is now part of the Northern State Recreation Area. Some of the former farm buildings, including several barns and a milking station are still “standing”, but are in a state of severe disrepair. Walking through these buildings is allowed but visitors should be very careful.
The State of Washington, Skagit County, and the Skagit Port now own the full property. In 2019, on the former hospital campus, the SWIFT Center (Sedro Wooley Innovation for Tomorrow) opened, including Cascades Job Corps College and Career Academy, Pioneer Center North and the North Sound Evaluation and Treatment Center. New signage directs visitors to follow the “Historic Route” and to avoid areas that are off limits.
The Northern State Hospital was built to provide care to selected patients that were unable to care for themselves or to receive needed care anywhere else. Unfortunately, its unusual history damaged its legacy without the ability to acknowledge the valuable care provided to thousands of patients. Now, the beautiful campus is enjoying its new life, and from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. every day, it is available for the public to explore and appreciate it.
