Illinois General Hospital for the Insane at Peoria

Peoria State Hospital (1909-1973) was formerly known as the Illinois Asylum for the Incurable Insane (1895-1907), and the Illinois General Hospital for the Insane (1907-1909). Although the Peoria site was chosen and construction began in 1895, the institution did not open until Feb. 10, 1902, after patients characterized as incurably insane were transferred from other state institutions. Jurisdiction was initially given to a three-member, Governor-appointed commission subject to Board of State Commissioners of Public Charities inspection. Both boards were abolished (1909) and institutional control passed first to the newly created Board of Administration (1909-1917), then to Dept. of Public Welfare (1917-1961), and finally, to Dept. of Mental Health (1961-1973). Peoria State Hospital closed in 1973.