Abandoned Taunton State Hospital (Taunton, MA) | a little bit crazy

Entry to Taunton State Hospital is a nearly impossible feat.
it used to be extremely easy - you could just walk right in! -
but then there was the fire that reduced the
administrative section, the cafeteria, and the auditorium
to a charred heap of rubble. The state spent over a million dollars to enclose
the remains in a thirteen foot high, climb-proof fence.
They installed motion-sensor cameras in hidden locations all along the grounds
that will alert them to an intruder's presence -
all to keep you out of buildings that they are allowing to fall apart.
Even if you somehow manage to make it past that,
finding an entry point isn't simple and you have very little time to do so
as the grounds are regularly patrolled at all hours by
DMH (Department of Mental Health) police, who are stationed on campus
and can arrest you on the spot.
Once inside, if you make it that far, you'll find the old wooden floors
are extremely unstable and rotted through; any step could potentially be fatal.
Several large sections of floor have already given way, and
when you look in the patients' rooms you'll frequently find
you are staring three floors down into a mess of jagged boards
and reminded, there but for the grace of God go I.
As it is still an active campus (several buildings are still in use)
in several of the wards you can hear people talking outside
almost as though they are on the other side of the wall,
because essentially they are -
but more importantly they can hear you. They can hear you
and alert the police, who have no problem surrounding the buildings
and spending hours waiting until eventually you have to come out.
You'd have to be a little crazy to go into a place like this.

In theory, at least, just like back in the days when it was open.
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Image of Taunton State Hospital and text by Matthew Christopher

Taunton State Hospital is a chapter in my book, Abandoned America: Dismantling the Dream.
Buy a signed copy via this link or get it on Amazon using the link below to learn more!