Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District, hospital
Rockhaven Sanitarium Historic District is a protected area in Glendale, California, that once served as a private hospital for women. The site consists of several small residential buildings with gardens and pathways that resemble a housing community rather than a medical facility.
The facility was opened in 1923 by nurse Agnes Richards and was one of the first private hospitals in the United States dedicated solely to women's mental health. It remained operational until 2006 and was recognized as a national historic site in 2016.
The district was established as a place for women who needed a calm and respectful environment for recovery, which was uncommon at the time. The layout with small cottages instead of large institutional buildings shows how much the founders valued personal and dignified care for residents.
The site is managed by the city of Glendale and is not currently open to the public, but information about its history can be accessed through local preservation groups. The preserved buildings and gardens provide insight into how mental health care was once approached.
Agnes Richards ran the hospital until her death in 1967, remaining committed to patient care for over four decades. Some of the original structures have been preserved in a way that still reveals how thoughtfully the site was designed.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
