On Saturday a few of us went to D.C. to take part in a tour of St Elizabeth's Hospital, now closed and owned by Homeland Security. John Hinckley used to be a resident here and we were very excited to see one of America's most famous mental hospitals. It was also used in the movie, 'A Few Good Men'. We had a wonderful view looking over D.C. and then doubts started setting in. We spent nearly half hour of our 1.5 hour tour standing here learning about H.S. and their plans with the site. We were also informed that we would not be allowed inside the buildings but would only walk around the site. I was devastated. This campus was an urban explorers dream, visiting wonderful empty old buildings and and being allowed to be there. But it was not to be. We were allowed to take photos of the outside only and we weren't allowed to wander. I was using my new 50D for the first time and had really wanted the opportunity to put it through its paces.
All the buildings, though wonderfully preserved, looked the same as we traipsed round. They all had red shutters over the windows, some of which had metal vents powered by solar panels on the roof for climate control.
The hospital is a Kirkbride building planned to give patients a sense of freedom and views of beauty. Civil War soldiers were treated here and there is also a cemetery at the back of the site with many unmarked graves.
We weren't allowed too long to take photos and I often felt like a kid on a school trip, constantly being told to move on by the teacher. This link gives more information and photos of the hospital. The tour guides mentioned that because they had so many photographers on the tours, they would organize a trip soley for them. I'll wait and see.
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