Established in 1822
Second Mental Hospital in the United States
On May 1, 1824 the hospital, known then as the Lunatic Asylum, welcomed it's first patient. Over the years, the name changed several times, until 1912 when the General Assembly officially renamed it Eastern State Hospital.
KYGenWeb Project
Began in 2006 with Mary Hatton leading
Working with various records, our goal is to identify those who lived and died at the hospital before 1956. Prior to the state mandated registration of deaths in 1911, records pertaining to these individuals are scarce. Add your families information using the Contact Us page.
The people who stayed in the 1800s were called inmates and lunatics. Learn some of their stories.
In 2001, a cemetery was discovered behind the building causing lots of concern and renewed interest
Earlier records have survived. Through these records, we know some who stayed there.
Pioneer in Medicine
A simple country doctor lead the way for patient care.
Dr. Thomas T. Wendell (1877 - 1953) was a pioneer in care of Kentucky's mentally ill, Dr. Wendell, as Staff Physician at Eastern State Hospital, worked for twenty years to upgrade care of African-American patients.
The Wendell Building of the hospital was named in his honor. Was a graduate of Meharry College in Nashville with degrees in both pharmacy and medicine. Served as physician in Lexington from 1900 until his death in 1953.
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