Discovery Sites
How to get there: From St. Peter head southwest on US-169 toward N Minnesota Ave. Turn right toward Freeman Dr. Left at the 1st cross street onto Freeman Dr, then turn right to stay on Freeman Dr.
What you will find: Museum, Cemeteries, and interpretive information. Visits by Appointment ONLY.
Services at this site: Interpretation
The facility houses is a museum that includes artifacts representing the treatment center during the late 1800. The museum showcases the history of Minnesota’s first and oldest state hospital, which opened in 1866 to serve mentally ill and dangerous.
St. Peter Regional Treatment Center was the first psychiatric treatment facility of its kind in the state. It was first built in 1876 and by 1892 the hospital had expanded to 810 acres, able to produce its own food, the hospital became largely self-sufficient. Despite this rapid expansion, the hospital was still not able to keep up with demand and remained overcrowded through the rest of the 19th and early 20th century.
The hospital housed 3,000 patients at its peak in 1957. The 1960s brought “deinstitutionalization” initiatives, moving people back to their communities and changed the role of the hospital to treatment instead of an asylum.
The hospital is still operating today housing 380 patients.
Things to Do: Discovery Site, Museum
