Norwalk State Hospital - Revision history

Squad546: updated info

2026-05-17T13:48:30Z

updated info

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:48, 17 May 2026
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	\| alt =		\| alt =
	\| caption = Main Building		\| caption = Main Building
	\| established = ~~1915~~		\| established = 1913
	\| construction_began =		\| construction_began =
	\| construction_ended =		\| construction_ended =
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	\| current_status = [[Active Institution\|Active]]		\| current_status = [[Active Institution\|Active]]
	\| building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions\|Cottage Plan]]		\| building_style = [[Cottage Planned Institutions\|Cottage Plan]]
	\| architect(s) =		\| architect(s) = Ducket and Jenkins
	\| location = Norwalk, Los Angeles County, CA		\| location = Norwalk, Los Angeles County, CA
	\| architecture_style =		\| architecture_style = Tudor Revival
	\| peak_patient_population =		\| peak_patient_population =
	\| alternate_names =<br>		\| alternate_names =<br>
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	Many changes have taken place since the opening of Norwalk State Hospital on February 15, 1916 including the development of psychotropic medications, increased therapies and improved standards of care. On September 9, 1953 a voluntary name change to Metropolitan State Hospital was requested so as to represent the service area and not the geography of the hospital’s location. In 2012 the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) was formed to streamline the state hospital system. The hospital was renamed DSH-Metropolitan at that time and is one of five existing state hospitals in California. Today DSH-Metropolitan has a daily census of approximately 750 patients and approximately 1,400 employees.		Many changes have taken place since the opening of Norwalk State Hospital on February 15, 1916 including the development of psychotropic medications, increased therapies and improved standards of care. On September 9, 1953 a voluntary name change to Metropolitan State Hospital was requested so as to represent the service area and not the geography of the hospital’s location. In 2012 the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) was formed to streamline the state hospital system. The hospital was renamed DSH-Metropolitan at that time and is one of five existing state hospitals in California. Today DSH-Metropolitan has a daily census of approximately 750 patients and approximately 1,400 employees.

	The facility celebrated its 100th anniversary on February 15, 2016. To commemorate the occasion, the facility opened a Mental Health Museum, unveiled a ceramic tiled Centennial Wall, sponsored an all day mental health conference, provided a retiree/alumni tea and social, and facilitated multiple patient events.		The facility celebrated its 100th anniversary on February 15, 2016. To commemorate the occasion, the facility opened a Mental Health Museum, unveiled a ceramic tiled Centennial Wall, sponsored an all day mental health conference, provided a retiree/alumni tea and social, and facilitated multiple patient events. In 2019 the State of California has proposed the construction of a new California Highway Patrol Santa Fe Springs Area Office Replacement Project that will significantly impact the hospital's integrity.

Squad546: /* Images */

2025-04-07T01:08:39Z

Images

← Older revision		Revision as of 01:08, 7 April 2025
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	<gallery>		<gallery>
	File:CAnorwalk.jpg		File:CAnorwalk.jpg
			File:CAnorwalkaerial57.png
	</gallery>		</gallery>

M-Explorer: removed video made private

2022-10-23T11:42:13Z

removed video made private

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:42, 23 October 2022
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	File:CAnorwalk.jpg		File:CAnorwalk.jpg
	</gallery>		</gallery>

	~~==Video==~~
	*This is a video of a walk through parts of the hospital.
	~~{{#ev:youtube\|N_2cdaEkLJc}}~~

	[[Category:California]]		[[Category:California]]
	[[Category:Cottage Plan]]		[[Category:Cottage Plan]]
	[[Category:Active Institution]]		[[Category:Active Institution]]
	~~[[Category:Articles With Videos]]~~

M-Explorer at 11:41, 23 October 2022

2022-10-23T11:41:41Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 11:41, 23 October 2022
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	==Video==		==Video==
	*This is a video of a walk through parts of the hospital.		*This is a video of a walk through parts of the hospital.
	~~<videoflash>~~N_2cdaEkLJc~~</videoflash>~~		{{#ev:youtube\|N_2cdaEkLJc}}

	[[Category:California]]		[[Category:California]]

172.68.211.31: /* History */

2019-06-28T04:40:19Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:40, 28 June 2019
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	Marilyn Monroe's mother Gladys was treated at this hospital after she had suffered a mental break down. ~~Bella~~ Lugosi is another famous former patient, admitted for 90 days in 1955 to treat his morphine addiction.		Marilyn Monroe's mother Gladys was treated at this hospital after she had suffered a mental break down. Bela Lugosi is another famous former patient, admitted for 90 days in 1955 to treat his morphine addiction.

	*[http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smreadtitle.cgi?action=display&file=nonfiction/HandleyP-TheFinalAnalysis.htm "The Final Analysis" by Pegi Handley]		*[http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smreadtitle.cgi?action=display&file=nonfiction/HandleyP-TheFinalAnalysis.htm "The Final Analysis" by Pegi Handley]

M-Explorer at 13:00, 4 January 2018

2018-01-04T13:00:32Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:00, 4 January 2018
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	\| peak_patient_population =		\| peak_patient_population =
	\| alternate_names =<br>		\| alternate_names =<br>
	*Norwalk State Hospital
	*Metropolitan State Hospital		*Metropolitan State Hospital
	}}		}}

MSH: /* History */

2018-01-04T03:02:34Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 03:02, 4 January 2018
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	==History==		==History==
	A study by a group of Los Angeles County Psychiatrists projected that with the area’s population growth and overcrowding at Patton State Hospital there was a need for a Los Angeles area hospital. In June of 1913, based on this study, Governor Hiram Johnson signed Senate Bill No. 739 ~~on June 7, 1913~~ appropriating authority and funds to create a second state hospital in Southern California for the reception and treatment of California’s increasing population of persons with psychiatric disabilities, alcohol and drug addiction. Three hundred and five acres of land in Norwalk were purchased for $90,000 after a selection committee had inspected twenty Southern California sites and considered forty separate proposals. The three top contenders for the new facility were Beverly Hills, Signal Hill and Norwalk. Signal Hill in Long Beach was rejected because the sea air was not perceived as healthful as the country air in Norwalk. In addition, the climate was damp and foggy, and it was difficult to access. The decision to place the hospital in Norwalk was prompted primarily due to its location, with easy access to good roads and railroad service. At the time, Norwalk was a very large and popular resort area that was ~~heavily~~ used seasonally because of its clean, healthy air, mild temperatures, mineral baths, Railroad Station as well as being the “in place” to have a cottage.		A study by a group of Los Angeles County Psychiatrists projected that with the area’s population growth and overcrowding at Patton State Hospital there was a need for a second Los Angeles area hospital. On June 7, 1913, based on this study, Governor Hiram Johnson signed Senate Bill No. 739 appropriating authority and funds to create a second state hospital in Southern California for the reception and treatment of California’s increasing population of persons with psychiatric disabilities, alcohol and drug addiction. Three hundred and five acres of land in Norwalk were purchased for $90,000 after a selection committee had inspected twenty Southern California sites and considered forty separate proposals. The three top contenders for the new facility were Beverly Hills, Signal Hill and Norwalk. Signal Hill in Long Beach was rejected because the sea air was not perceived as healthful as the country air in Norwalk. In addition, the climate was damp and foggy, and it was difficult to access. The decision to place the hospital in Norwalk was prompted primarily due to its location, with easy access to good roads and railroad service. At the time, Norwalk was a very large and popular resort area that was used seasonally because of its clean, healthy air, mild temperatures, mineral baths, Railroad Station as well as being the “in place” to have a cottage.

	On February 15, 1916, the State Lunacy Commission opened Norwalk State Hospital with 105 patients on Wards 2 and 4 with 21 employees, including one physician. Many of these patients most likely had a syphilis induced psychosis and were termed luetic patients, meaning a patient who was affected by syphilis. These first patients were noted to be “accommodating male patients of a quiet working class” and were transferred by rail and buckboard from Patton State Hospital (PSH) in Patton, CA. Those that came by buckboard, a four-wheeled horse drawn wagon, reportedly camped along the way for rest stops. These patients later assisted ~~farm~~ staff with the building and development of the original construction located between Circle Drive and what has become Bloomfield Avenue. Circle Drive was planned as a frontage road for a cottage style hospital with separate buildings as opposed to one large complex modeled in the Kirkbride tradition which was devised for the Moral Treatment of mentally ill patients.		On February 15, 1916, the State Lunacy Commission opened Norwalk State Hospital with 105 patients on Wards 2 and 4 with 21 employees, including one physician. Many of these patients most likely had a syphilis induced psychosis and were termed luetic patients, meaning a patient who was affected by syphilis. These first patients were noted to be “accommodating male patients of a quiet working class” and were transferred by rail and buckboard from Patton State Hospital (PSH) in Patton, CA. Those that came by buckboard, a four-wheeled horse drawn wagon, reportedly camped along the way for rest stops. These patients later assisted hospital staff with the building and development of the original construction located between Circle Drive and what has become Bloomfield Avenue. Circle Drive was planned as a frontage road for a cottage style hospital with separate buildings as opposed to one large complex modeled in the Kirkbride tradition which was devised for the Moral Treatment of mentally ill patients.

	Many changes have taken place since the opening of Norwalk State Hospital on February 15, 1916 including the development of psychotropic medications, increased therapies and improved standards of care. On September 9, 1953 a voluntary name change to Metropolitan State Hospital was requested so as to represent the service area and not the geography of the hospital’s location. In 2012 the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) was formed to streamline the state hospital system. The hospital was renamed DSH-Metropolitan at that time and is one of five existing state hospitals in California. Today DSH-Metropolitan has a daily census of approximately 750 patients and approximately 1,400 employees.		Many changes have taken place since the opening of Norwalk State Hospital on February 15, 1916 including the development of psychotropic medications, increased therapies and improved standards of care. On September 9, 1953 a voluntary name change to Metropolitan State Hospital was requested so as to represent the service area and not the geography of the hospital’s location. In 2012 the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) was formed to streamline the state hospital system. The hospital was renamed DSH-Metropolitan at that time and is one of five existing state hospitals in California. Today DSH-Metropolitan has a daily census of approximately 750 patients and approximately 1,400 employees.
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	Marilyn Monroe's mother Gladys was ~~sent to~~ this hospital after she had suffered a mental break down. Bella Lugosi is another famous former patient, admitted for 90 days to treat his morphine addiction ~~in 1955~~.		Marilyn Monroe's mother Gladys was treated at this hospital after she had suffered a mental break down. Bella Lugosi is another famous former patient, admitted for 90 days in 1955 to treat his morphine addiction.

	*[http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smreadtitle.cgi?action=display&file=nonfiction/HandleyP-TheFinalAnalysis.htm "The Final Analysis" by Pegi Handley]		*[http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smreadtitle.cgi?action=display&file=nonfiction/HandleyP-TheFinalAnalysis.htm "The Final Analysis" by Pegi Handley]

MSH at 02:55, 4 January 2018

2018-01-04T02:55:46Z

← Older revision		Revision as of 02:55, 4 January 2018
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	\| peak_patient_population =		\| peak_patient_population =
	\| alternate_names =<br>		\| alternate_names =<br>
	*Norwalk State Hospital ~~for the Insane~~		*Norwalk State Hospital
	*Metropolitan State Hospital		*Metropolitan State Hospital
	}}		}}
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	Marilyn Monroe's mother Gladys was sent to this hospital after she had suffered a mental break down. ~~Gladys later died there~~.		Marilyn Monroe's mother Gladys was sent to this hospital after she had suffered a mental break down. Bella Lugosi is another famous former patient, admitted for 90 days to treat his morphine addiction in 1955.

	*[http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smreadtitle.cgi?action=display&file=nonfiction/HandleyP-TheFinalAnalysis.htm "The Final Analysis" by Pegi Handley]		*[http://www.storymania.com/cgibin/sm2/smreadtitle.cgi?action=display&file=nonfiction/HandleyP-TheFinalAnalysis.htm "The Final Analysis" by Pegi Handley]

M-Explorer: /* Video */

2018-01-02T13:37:20Z

Video

← Older revision		Revision as of 13:37, 2 January 2018
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	==Video==		==Video==
			*This is a video of a walk through parts of the hospital.
	This is a video of a walk through parts of the hospital.
	<videoflash>N_2cdaEkLJc</videoflash>		<videoflash>N_2cdaEkLJc</videoflash>

MSH: /* History */

2016-03-05T23:32:15Z

History

← Older revision		Revision as of 23:32, 5 March 2016
Line 23:		Line 23:

	==History==		==History==
	In ~~1915 California~~ Governor ~~H. W.~~ Johnson ~~(1866-1945)~~ signed ~~legislation opening Norwalk State Hospital~~. ~~About $400~~,~~000.00 was allocated for the purchase of the land on which~~ to ~~build~~ a state hospital ~~designed to provide care~~ and treatment ~~to California's~~ increasing population of persons with ~~mental health challenges~~. ~~The city~~ of Norwalk ~~was the eventual location chosen~~ for the ~~hospital over~~ Beverly Hills and Signal Hill due to ~~convenient road~~ and railroad ~~access~~. ~~In those days~~, the ~~hospital was self sufficient~~ with ~~its own farm~~, ~~dairy~~ and farm ~~animals~~. ~~The facility is known today~~ as Metropolitan State Hospital (~~MSH~~). The ~~current size~~ of the facility, ~~162 acres~~, ~~has numerous buildings which continue to display the rich heritage of days gone by~~.		A study by a group of Los Angeles County Psychiatrists projected that with the area’s population growth and overcrowding at Patton State Hospital there was a need for a Los Angeles area hospital. In June of 1913, based on this study, Governor Hiram Johnson signed Senate Bill No. 739 on June 7, 1913 appropriating authority and funds to create a second state hospital in Southern California for the reception and treatment of California’s increasing population of persons with psychiatric disabilities, alcohol and drug addiction. Three hundred and five acres of land in Norwalk were purchased for $90,000 after a selection committee had inspected twenty Southern California sites and considered forty separate proposals. The three top contenders for the new facility were Beverly Hills, Signal Hill and Norwalk. Signal Hill in Long Beach was rejected because the sea air was not perceived as healthful as the country air in Norwalk. In addition, the climate was damp and foggy, and it was difficult to access. The decision to place the hospital in Norwalk was prompted primarily due to its location, with easy access to good roads and railroad service. At the time, Norwalk was a very large and popular resort area that was heavily used seasonally because of its clean, healthy air, mild temperatures, mineral baths, Railroad Station as well as being the “in place” to have a cottage.

			On February 15, 1916, the State Lunacy Commission opened Norwalk State Hospital with 105 patients on Wards 2 and 4 with 21 employees, including one physician. Many of these patients most likely had a syphilis induced psychosis and were termed luetic patients, meaning a patient who was affected by syphilis. These first patients were noted to be “accommodating male patients of a quiet working class” and were transferred by rail and buckboard from Patton State Hospital (PSH) in Patton, CA. Those that came by buckboard, a four-wheeled horse drawn wagon, reportedly camped along the way for rest stops. These patients later assisted farm staff with the building and development of the original construction located between Circle Drive and what has become Bloomfield Avenue. Circle Drive was planned as a frontage road for a cottage style hospital with separate buildings as opposed to one large complex modeled in the Kirkbride tradition which was devised for the Moral Treatment of mentally ill patients.

			Many changes have taken place since the opening of Norwalk State Hospital on February 15, 1916 including the development of psychotropic medications, increased therapies and improved standards of care. On September 9, 1953 a voluntary name change to Metropolitan State Hospital was requested so as to represent the service area and not the geography of the hospital’s location. In 2012 the Department of State Hospitals (DSH) was formed to streamline the state hospital system. The hospital was renamed DSH-Metropolitan at that time and is one of five existing state hospitals in California. Today DSH-Metropolitan has a daily census of approximately 750 patients and approximately 1,400 employees.

			The facility celebrated its 100th anniversary on February 15, 2016. To commemorate the occasion, the facility opened a Mental Health Museum, unveiled a ceramic tiled Centennial Wall, sponsored an all day mental health conference, provided a retiree/alumni tea and social, and facilitated multiple patient events.


	Marilyn Monroe's mother Gladys was sent to this hospital after she had suffered a mental break down. Gladys later died there.		Marilyn Monroe's mother Gladys was sent to this hospital after she had suffered a mental break down. Gladys later died there.