New Mexico State Hospital

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New Mexico State Hospital
Construction Began 1889
Current Status Active
Building Style Cottage Plan
Location Las Vegas, NM
Alternate Names
  • New Mexico Behavioral Health Institute
  • Las Vegas Medical Center



History

This facility was established in 1889. They admitted their first patient in 1893 in a modest three story building. It was expanded because of the growing need for patient care. By 1935, the hospital was treating 750 patients. The term "mistreating", is more accurate as applied to treating mental patients during that era, because of the general medical ignorance about mental illness and disorders. Only recently, has mentally illness been considered a disease like any other disease. However, some people continue to hold ignorant prejudices about this class of illness.

Cemetery

This cemetery is west of the state hospital on Hot Springs Road, just north of the Mount Calvary Cemetery, (which is at 3685 Hot Springs Road). This is a cemetery owned and maintained by the state of New Mexico. It does not appear to be used any longer & the number of graves is unknown.