What the Poughkeepsie Psychiatric Hospital Looks Like Today

A new look at the inside of Poughkeepsie's abandoned psychiatric hospital is hauntingly beautiful.

The Hudson River State Hospital became New York State's second insane asylum in the late 1800s. Located on Route 9, across from Marist College, the hospital was created to usher in a new era of treating the mentally ill. The Victorian buildings, rolling landscapes and beautiful surroundings of the Hudson Valley were all supposed to be a part of the treatment. A beautiful and scenic retreat, it was thought, would help clear one's mind and aid in curing their insanity.

Back in 2014, we took you inside the old psychiatric center courtesy of some urban explorers who documented their trip through the building and grounds. A new trio of hikers recently made their way inside the building to reveal just how much it has changed in the past couple of years.

Due to trespassers entering the now-closed facility, elaborate graffiti art now fills the walls of many of the buildings, including the recreation and pool area. Some of the paintings are extremely intricate, indicating that trespassers had plenty of time to stay inside the old asylum without fear of being chased off by security or police.

Here's what the inside of the psychiatric hospital looks like today:

You can compare that footage with this video that was taken in the exact same area of the hospital just three years earlier:

During its heyday in the 1950s, the Hudson River Psychiatric Center was treating upwards of 6,000 patients and employing hundreds of doctors and nurses.  As techniques and ideas about the treatment of the mentally ill changed in the 1970s, so did the need for places like the Psych Center. The hospital became a National Historic Landmark in 1989, but that still couldn't stop it from slowly becoming obsolete. In 1994 the hospital joined Harlem Valley Psychiatric Center and then eventually closed its doors in 2003.