Farmington State Hospital No. 4 Cemetery

Farmington State Hospital No. 4 Cemetery is a historic site located in Farmington, Missouri, United States. It is associated with the Farmington State Hospital No. 4, a former psychiatric hospital that operated from 1903 to 1998. The cemetery is the final resting place for many patients who died while receiving treatment at the hospital.

History

The Farmington State Hospital No. 4 Cemetery was established in the early 20th century, shortly after the opening of the Farmington State Hospital No. 4. The hospital was one of the largest psychiatric facilities in the state of Missouri, and the cemetery was created to provide a final resting place for patients who died while under the hospital's care.

The cemetery is a poignant reminder of the history of mental health treatment in the United States. It reflects the societal attitudes towards mental illness during the 20th century, as well as the evolution of psychiatric care.

Description

The cemetery is located on a quiet, secluded plot of land near the former hospital site. It is characterized by its simple, unadorned gravestones, which bear only the patients' hospital numbers and dates of death. This anonymity was a common practice in psychiatric hospital cemeteries of the time, reflecting the stigma associated with mental illness.

Preservation

In recent years, efforts have been made to preserve the Farmington State Hospital No. 4 Cemetery and honor the memory of those buried there. These efforts include the installation of a memorial plaque and the creation of a digital database of the cemetery's interments.

See Also

• Farmington State Hospital No. 4
• History of psychiatric institutions
• Cemetery preservation