Glore Psychiatric Museum
- Admission
- $10 adults, $8 seniors, $7 students
- Hours
- Daily 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- Duration
- 2-3 hours
- Parking
- Free on-site parking lot
- Access
- Fully wheelchair accessible with elevators and ramps
Chronicling the 140-year history of the adjacent state mental hospital, this museum offers a fascinating look at the evolution of mental health treatment. Visitors can explore replica treatment devices, patient artwork, and bizarre items swallowed by patients, including a famous collection of over 1,400 safety pins.
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Located on the grounds of the former State Lunatic Asylum No. 2, the Glore Psychiatric Museum offers a fascinating and sobering look at the history of mental health treatment. Founded in 1967 by George Glore, the museum chronicles centuries of psychiatric practices, from medieval-style restraints to modern therapeutics.
Visitors will encounter a vast array of exhibits, including historical surgical tools, treatment devices, and incredibly detailed dioramas. Among the most famous displays is a collection of over 1,400 metal objects swallowed by a single patient, as well as hauntingly beautiful artwork created by former residents.
The museum excels at humanizing the patients while objectively presenting the well-intentioned, though often horrifying, medical practices of the past. It stands as one of the most unique and comprehensive psychiatric museums in the world, offering a deeply memorable educational experience.
Ratings
museumVisitor Tips
- ◆ Allow at least two to three hours to explore the multi-story museum and the other history exhibits housed in the same complex.
- ◆ Purchase a combination ticket to gain access to the other St. Joseph Museums on site, including the Black Archives Museum and the National Military Heritage Museum.
- ◆ Photography is allowed, but visitors are asked to maintain a respectful demeanor given the sensitive nature of the exhibits.
Heads Up
- ◆ The museum contains graphic exhibits detailing historical medical procedures, lobotomies, and restraints that may be distressing to some visitors.
- ◆ Due to themes of mental illness, self-harm, and suicide, this attraction may not be suitable for young children.
Common questions
Is the museum located inside an active psychiatric hospital?
No, the museum is housed in a former clinic building outside the secure perimeter of the active Northwest Missouri Psychiatric Rehabilitation Center.
Can you see the exhibit of items swallowed by a patient?
Yes, the museum displays the famous exhibit of 1,446 swallowed objects, including nails, screws, and safety pins, recovered from the stomach of a single patient in 1929.
Does admission to the Glore Psychiatric Museum include the other museums in the building?
Yes, a single admission ticket grants access to all museums housed in the same building, which includes the St. Joseph Museum, the Black Archives Museum, and the National Military Heritage Museum.