Anyone on here who has been to Traverse City and visited "The Village at Grand Traverse Commons" likely understands that it is one of the best-preserved & repurposed Kirkbride-plan hospitals left standing in the country. The complex started as the Northern Michigan Asylum in the 1880s and was eventually renamed the Traverse City State Hospital. It grew through the decades until ultimately closing in 1889. It was repurposed after that, and today it serves as a
sprawling mixed-use destination for shops, restaurants, and residences -
You can read a lot more on its history at any number of sites, some which are sourced below. Here's just a few images -
Historic image of the asylum -
Source:
restless-viking.com | Traverse City Historical Society
The main building, before renovations began -
Source:
Awesome Mitten
Northern Michigan Asylum Baseball Team -
Source:
restless-viking.com | Traverse City Historical Society
The primary tunnel that connected multiple buildings -
Source:
Atlas Obscura
Contemporary aerial views -
Before / after of the basement shops in building 50 -
Before / after of a restaurant space -
Before / after of a residential unit -
Source:
The Holland Sentinel