During my last big photography trip, I spent a day in Salem, Oregon. Since leaving home, I had already put 5,000 miles on my Prius, so it was time to get an oil change. A quick search on my iPhone located a Jiffy Lube within just a couple of miles. On my way to the Jiffy Lube, I couldn't help but notice an impressive looking hospital just north of the road. I planned to return after the oil change and lunch at Chipotle.

I was pleasantly surprised by my experience at Jiffy Lube. Since the trip involved Prius camping, my car was packed with valuables that I needed throughout the trip--including all of my camera gear and other electronics. I wasn't looking forward to turning my car over to someone and having it out of my sight. The oil change at this Jiffy Lube was so fast and convenient that it was easier than stopping for gas! I never had to get out of my car. Within ten minutes, the oil was changed and I was on my way--all for $19.95. That's about half the price of my typical oil change back at home.

After the oil change, I drove back to the hospital. The hospital was the Oregon State Hospital with the Museum of Mental Health housed in the front section of the historic building.

Oregon State HospitalOregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health at 2600 Center St NE in Salem, Oregon on August 9, 2013.

I entered the building about twenty minutes before it was scheduled to close. During the twenty minutes, I had an interesting conversation with two of the museum employees. They shared some of the history of the mental hospital. They talked about how the building was the site of the filming of "One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest" and how Nurse Ratched had recently visited the museum.

One of the employees showed me a photography book that he found interesting. I was amazed at the quality of the photographs contained in the book and plan to order the book in the near future. The book is called "Asylum: Inside the Closed World of State Mental Hospitals" by Christopher Payne. I enjoy taking similar images at the Manteno State Mental Hospital, but have a long way to go before reaching the fine art quality of Payne's photographs.

Since the museum was closing, I was told that it didn't make sense to pay the admission fee. But, I was encouraged to take a quick look around. I spotted an old organ in the corner of one of the rooms and asked for permission to photograph it.

OrganOld organ on display at the Oregon State Hospital Museum of Mental Health at 2600 Center St NE in Salem, Oregon on August 9, 2013.

Given how accommodating the employees were, I offered to pay the admission fee as I was leaving. The woman at the desk asked me if I was over 50 years old. When I told her that I was over 50, she gave me the good news that I had saved a dollar on the fee for reaching that milestone. I told her that I would rather pay the extra dollar if that meant I could be younger than 50!