National Register of Historic Places

Athens State Hospital

Athens, Athens County, Ohio
Listed
March 11, 1980
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
80002936

About this property

The Athens Lunatic Asylum, now a mixed-use development known as The Ridges, was a Kirkbride Plan mental hospital operated in Athens, Ohio, from 1874 until 1993. During its operation, the hospital provided services to a variety of patients including Civil War veterans, children, and those declared mentally unwell. After a period of disuse the property was redeveloped by the state of Ohio. Today, The Ridges are a part of Ohio University and house the Kennedy Museum of Art as well as an auditorium and many offices, classrooms, and storage facilities. After the hospital's original structure closed, the state of Ohio acquired the property and renamed the complex and its surrounding grounds The Ridges. According to The Guide of Repository Holdings, the term "The Ridges" was derived from a naming contest in 1984 to re-describe the area and its purpose.

Location

Athens, Athens County, Ohio
39.32126, -82.11121

Categories

ARCHITECTURESOCIAL HISTORY
National Register nomination ›
Sources

Property data from the National Register of Historic Places, National Park Service (public domain).

Description adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

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Overview
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The Land
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Geology
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LiDAR Terrain
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Conflict & War
The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.
The Civil War
The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.
The Soldiers
The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.
Native Heritage
The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.
Settlement
Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.
The Community
How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.
Rivers & Rail
The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.
Notable People
The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.
Historical Maps
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Finds & Access
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Literature
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Spotlight
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Points of Interest
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Timeline
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Nearby Historic Sites

Athens State Hospital Cow Barn
Industrial
0.5 mi
Athens B & O Train Depot
Industrial
0.6 mi
Beasley Building
Industrial
0.6 mi
Ohio University Campus Green Historic District
Listed
0.7 mi
Manasseh Cutler Hall, Ohio University
Industrial
0.7 mi

Nearby Battles

Morgan's Raid — Athens Ohio Skirmish
1863Civil War
0.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Athens State Hospital listed on the National Register?

Athens State Hospital was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on March 11, 1980.

What type of historic resource is Athens State Hospital?

Athens State Hospital is classified as a district in the National Register of Historic Places.

What is the period of significance for Athens State Hospital?

The period of significance for Athens State Hospital is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Athens State Hospital?

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