On May 22nd, I captured some photographs from the abandoned Manteno State Hospital. This psychiatric hospital opened in 1930 and was closed in 1983. At one point, it housed nearly 8,200 patients. The hospital became short on staff (approximately 200 people). As the patient to staff ratio became more dramatic, reports of abuse surfaced. In recent years, the vacant hospital buildings have attracted "ghost hunters".

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the visit. All of these pictures were captured with the Nikon D800 and Nikon 14-24 2.8 lens:

Manteno State Hospital Dirty floor (B&W version) Hospital hallway The shadow room (B&W version) Since posting the images, I've received a number of questions about the location of this site. The above photographs were captured at the building located near the intersection of Ironwood and North Grove Street in Manteno, Illinois. I first noticed this site while putting on the 15th green of the Manteno Golf Club! Please note that a visit to this site poses some risks. The building has stood vacant for nearly 30 years. And, many times a "No Trespassing" sign is posted on the grounds.

Following are a few photos from the earlier days of the hospital:

Manteno psychiatric ward (1938)