I've always had a love for anything paranormal. Growing up, it was really just limited to documentaries and scary movies. When my husband and I first started dating, I learned my now mother-in-law did as well! She even had her own investigating team, and we got to go on a few investigations with them, vastly opening my mind and the knowledge I have for it. It kind of became our thing, exploring homes and old buildings, listening to the stories they had to tell, in a very different way.
Anyway, about a year and a half ago myself, husband, kiddos, and the mother-in-law were visiting with family in Illinois. The day before we went home we went exploring. We heard the old Peoria State Hospital Historic District (also called Bartonville State Hospital) was going to be torn down just a few days after we were supposed to leave. With no intention of going inside, we drove up to it just to get a look of the outside (we often playfully get teased about our idea of vacation fun. We toured some haunted hotels in Eureka Springs, AR for our anniversary a couple of months after this happened. What can I say, we love it!).
Isn't it just beautiful?
Different angle
As we were taking pictures, there was a man there who gave tours of the building. He was generous enough to offer us one last tour of this historical building! All of us having a love for this kind of thing, looked at each other eager with excitement, and in we went!
One of the staircases
Each room, the man had a story to tell. While some of the items placed in there were just props, it really gave you the experience of what some of the patients went through.
We didn't get to do any investigating that day, but man was it an honor getting to walk around those rooms, hearing the stories of how things were done, and even listening to a couple of the man's experiences while touring.
We also stopped by the cemetery.
We loved looking at all the graves, respectfully of course, finding the oldest ones we could.
We couldn't be sure but we thought those years marked on there was the year they passed.
These are just a few pictures of our time spent there. Thanks for taking the time to check them out. Hope you enjoyed!
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STOPThis is f*cking awesome, Ash! I've always been fascinated with old places that have a story to tell. And it's even cooler that you and your mother-in-law share a common interest! Keep exploring and keep sharing!
Thanks, Mel! I almost thought about taking out the paranormal part because I often know what people's reactions are. But then I remembered this is steemit, and usually people are very open to anything, so I kept it :).
They really are fascinating, and if we ever find ourselves exploring another one, you know we'll send you and @jasonrussell an invite! :)
This is so fascinating! I would love to join in on something like this!!
Glad you liked it! Like I told Mel, if we ever find another building to explore we'll send you guys the invite. I'm sure you could get much better quality photos! :)
haha you will need some more camera equipment!! Record some ghostly images in the dark!!
The woman that my mother-in-law has her team with has all kinds of cool equipment! It's really cool to see it in use :)
Hahaa right!! Maybe an Infrared converted camera and who knows what else!!!
So cool! I'm super jealous!!! We love paranormal stuff as well! And I dig historical sites! I always wanted to be an archeologist!
Freaking awesome, right?? It really was such a surprise that we got to go in! I'm sure that the man thought we were trying to break in (I read they had a lot of trouble with that) but when we explained what we were doing, and my mother-in-law pulled the "we're from out of town" card, he was more than happy to let us in!
I never knew that! Like I told Mel, I almost didn't bring up the paranormal subject just because I know how most people react when I try to tell them. So it's cool to find out we share that! :)
If Bryan and I could afford it, he's always telling me he'd love to be an archeologist and travel the world!
Hehe! That was totally cool of him!!! Yeah even Jaiden loves paranormal shows and stuff! We're always watching the one show hosted by Zak Bagans... I forget what it's called. Haha! I'd love to do that stuff too!
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STOPYou're lucky!!!! Ugh I wanna go!!!! Great post though Ash!
Well thanks, @pratleyyatef!!
I usually don't know if anyone finds anything I post interesting at all, but for me it's fun to write about!
Have you heard of the asylum in Ironton, Missouri? We definitely have to look more into it before we try to go, but if we end up getting to, you should go!!
No I have not heard of that. I would be interested in going! Im always down for adventures with an added bonus of family time!!
Whoop whoop!
How neat, not your typical vacation but who wants to be normal anyhow! That's awesome you got to go in and see the place! Do you think the graves are filled with the patients that passed?
We were looking for them! Unfortunately I can't remember if we found any of their names (and I'd have to ask Bryan to refresh my memory, but I think they said most of the patients were unmarked). We had a TON more pictures of everything but they are stored on a computer that is now crashed :(.
Oh no!! Now you need a guy that knows how to pull the hard-drive if it isn't corrupted.... seems like we know a guy who knows about computers lol
Hmm yeah, that sounds familiar, if only I could place my finger on his name.... Lol.
I need to get a hold of him about it!
Awesome! I'm so terrified of things like this, but also a little obsessed with it. Haha! I have a few stories of my own.
When you explored Eureka, did anything odd show up in your photos?
Oh yeah, same here! There's a story from our apartment days that will forever stay with me!
And we did get a few little things, I need to go through my pictures again!! Hearing stories of some people's experiences (my in-laws included) while they stayed the night at the hotel makes me want to stay a night too. Maybe we'll get to one day :)
I need to look for my photos. We had actual people figures in our photos. It was night, and we were the only ones outside. 😬
Oh that's awesome, I'd love to see them!! We got a few orbs and a couple where you can see faces but nothing like that
It was creepy! There is NO way I would sleep there. Hahaha!