Campus Images

This page collects images and maps of the campus of the hospital, and is organized chronologically by date, if known.

Early Campus Maps

These maps are courtesy of The City of Ten Thousand Buddhas (CTTB), and were graciously scanned by staff at the Historical Society of Mendocino County. Given their age, they are presented separately with explanations of their layout and contents.

Early 1910s(?) Fire Systems Map

This map is undated, but it likely dates to the early 1910s. The map is large, and what is presented here is a composite of four photos.
  • The garages and other side buildings that were built around the Kitchen Building do not appear on this map. This map thus presents the clearest idea of what the original shape of the Main Building was like (and is thus my basis for my reconstruction of the layout on the Administrative Buildings page).
  • Wards 4 and 5 appear to be in the Kitchen Building, while Ward 6 is in the Assembly Building.
  • Note the fence around Ward 7.

1916 Fire Systems Map

An early map detailing the fire system from December 1916 with Herbert E. Mackie of Perrine & Mackie as architect, with pencil additions by F.J. Robinson on October 23, 1924.
  • It is evident that by 1916 that there was an accumulation of other buildings around the Main Building, particularly the Store/Kitchen building. These other buildings are treated by this map as part of the footprint of the whole building.
  • MSH had not come into possession of the parcels to the east; the diagonal property line marked here is still the dividing line between parcels that comprise CTTB.
  • There is a stable and wagon shed at the back of the property which had evidently disappeared by the time of the 1930 Historical Record.
  • To the left, pencil outlines of the first Ward 7 can be seen, as well as an outline of Ward 10.

Early Campus Images

Image of campus circa 1937 (from California State Archives)
Image of campus circa 1941
From a U.S. Army MLS Air Survey in 1942
Image of campus circa 1951 (from California State Archives)
Aerial photo of campus in 1957 (photo negative credit: Ed Bold)
Another clearer photo from the same series of campus in 1957 (from California State Archives). The back of the image reads: “Aerial view of Mendocino State Hospital, Talmage, California, taken in 1957.”

1954 Division of Architecture Map

This map appears to have been based on architectural blueprints for campus, and it captures the campus at a transitional period in 1954. While the former main building had been demolished so that the auditorium and new wards could be built, several structures slated to be demolished were still extant (e.g. Wards D&E, the old morgue, etc). Those buildings and other removed features are marked “deleted” on this map.

1962 Visitor’s Guide Map

This simplified map was included in a visitor’s guide to the hospital. Of note is the credit union opposite Unit 7, which was likely a temporary structure or trailer, as there is no building foundation at that site today. The credit union also does not appear in subsequent aerial photos of the campus.

This map was included in a 1962 visitor’s guide to MSH.