St. Elizabeths Hospital

St. Elizabeths Hospital is a psychiatric facility in Southeast Washington, D.C., spread across a large hilltop overlooking the Anacostia River. The complex consists of several Renaissance Revival buildings surrounded by open lawns and clusters of mature trees that have grown over the decades.

Congress established the facility in 1852 as the first federal psychiatric institution for the civil service and the military. Treatment approaches evolved over the decades until the property transferred to District of Columbia administration in 1987.

The name honors Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, a 13th-century figure known for caring for sick people. Visitors can view artworks that former patients made in the facility's workshops during their treatment.

The grounds sit on a hilltop southeast of downtown and are partly accessible to visitors, while other sections remain in use as a working clinic. A phone call ahead is recommended for visiting the museum, as opening hours are limited.

The library in the main building holds medical records and photographs from more than a century of psychiatric research. Some of the oldest documents date from the 1880s and show daily life on the wards during a time when treatment methods were still heavily shaped by moral therapy.

Location: Washington, D.C.

Inception: 1852

Founders: United States Congress

Architectural style: Renaissance Revival architecture

Website: http://stelizabethseast.com

GPS coordinates: 38.84920,-76.98960

Latest update: December 13, 2025 17:05