National Register of Historic Places

Western State Hospital Historic District

Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tennessee
Listed
June 24, 1987
Type
District
Period
Listed
Ref No.
87001057

About this property

The Western State Hospital Historic District is a 37 acres (15 ha) historic district in Bolivar, Tennessee which was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. It then included seven contributing buildings and four non-contributing ones. It has also been known as the Western State Hospital for the Insane at Bolivar, as the Western State Psychiatric Hospital, and presently operates as the Western Mental Health Institute, serving 24 counties in West Tennessee. Its 1889 building was designed by architect Harry Peake McDonald and his brothers Kenneth and Donald. This firm had previously designed the Southwestern Lunatic Asylum in Marion, Virginia. The McDonalds based the design on the Kirkbride Plan. Its 1932 building known as the Psychopathic Hospital, later known as the Polk Building, was designed by architect Wyatt C. Hedrick of Memphis.

Location

Bolivar, Hardeman County, Tennessee
35.27700, -88.99229

Categories

HEALTH/MEDICINEARCHITECTURE
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
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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
The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.
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Nearby Historic Sites

North Main Street Historic District
Listed
1.1 mi
Bolivar Court Square Historic District
Listed
1.5 mi
United Sons and Daughters of Charity Lodge Hall
Industrial
1.5 mi
Bills-McNeal Historic District
Listed
1.6 mi
Hatchie River Ferry
Early Republic
5.6 mi

Nearby Battles

Skirmish at Hatchie Bridge
1862Civil War
1.8 mi

Questions about this property

When was Western State Hospital Historic District listed on the National Register?

Western State Hospital Historic District was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 24, 1987.

What type of historic resource is Western State Hospital Historic District?

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

What is the period of significance for Western State Hospital Historic District?

The period of significance for Western State Hospital Historic District is recorded as the listed era.

Can I research the history near Western State Hospital Historic District?

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