State Lunatic Asylum, Austin, Texas
historic place
The State Lunatic Asylum in Austin, Travis County, is a historic place. The Texas Legislature created this hospital for the mentally ill in 1856. Construction began in 1857. The institution, then housed in the Administration Building, opened on May 11, 1861, with about a dozen patients. It is the oldest mental hospital in Texas. In 1925, the facility was renamed Austin State Hospital. This site has continued its dedication to mental health programs. A historical marker was erected in 1966. This location represents an early and continuous commitment to mental healthcare in the state.