Saint Elizabeths: West Campus
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Saint Elizabeths' West Campus includes some of the hospital's earliest buildings, with The Center Building being the first. Facilities on the West Campus of Saint Elizabeths provide a striking picture of how the opinions of mental illness and its treatment evolved over time in the United States. Saint Elizabeths was an institution that understood the important role the built environment played in the care of their patients. This philosophy significantly influenced the approach hospital leaders took to the design and construction of buildings. The consciousness exhibited by the hospital's designers was something that set Saint Elizabeths apart from other institutions during its time.
Today, the federal government remains responsible for the West Campus. The campus includes the headquarters of the United States Coast Guard and the Department of Homeland Security.
The following historic sites are found on the West Campus:
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Ariel view of Saint Elizabeths' West and East Campus.
The main road cutting through the center of the image is Martin Luther King Jr. Avenue. A view of the hospital's West Campus can be seen in the upper-left portion of the photograph, while the East Campus is shown in the lower-right part of the photo. | Source: National Archives and Records Administration | Date: Unknown
Early map of Saint Elizabeths' West Campus.
Source: Library of Congress | Date: 1860