On the eastern edge of Sedro-Woolley near the foothills of the North Cascades, a pastoral expanse of land dotted with historic buildings is the site of the former Northern State Hospital, a mental institution that operated from 1912 until 1973.
In its time, the state institution was cutting edge in using occupational therapy as treatment — the 2,200 patients who lived there worked in the creamery, gardens and farm fields.
In 1991, Skagit County purchased the old farm operation, around 730 acres, from the state to develop the Northern State Recreation Area. Volunteer organization Skagit Trail Builders has partnered with the county parks and recreation department to build trails through meadows and past dilapidated dairy barns.
The Northern State landscape plan was designed by the Olmsted Brothers landscaping firm. If that name rings a bell, it’s because they’re the sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, the architect who designed New York City’s Central Park.
The hospital was featured in the third season of the reality television series “Ghost Hunters” in 2006. Unsurprisingly, and to the dismay of the facility manager at the time, the team of paranormal investigators recorded what appeared to be ghostly activity on the grounds.
In 2010 the site was added to the National Register of Historic Places. A 2023 Seattle Times investigation helped descendants identify their relatives who died at the psychiatric hospital.
The hospital facility itself is now home to the SWIFT Center (Sedro-Woolley Innovation for Tomorrow), a mixed-use research and business campus the Port of Skagit is in the process of developing. Learn more at portofskagit.com/swift-center/.
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Julia Tellman writes about civic issues and anything else that happens to cross her desk; contact her at juliatellman@cascadiadaily.com.
