Kathryn Dysart is a docent and founding board member of the Museum of Mental Health at the Oregon State Hospital. (Ron Cooper/Salem Reporter)
The Museum of Mental Health is reopening its doors after more than a year with a new exhibit focused on women’s experiences at Oregon State Hospital.
The museum, housed on the Oregon State Hospital campus in Salem, will open Friday, May 28 for members and their guests by appointment, according to a news release. The general public can begin visiting Thursday, June 3. The museum is located at 2600 Center St. NE.
A new exhibit, “Unfit to Be At Large: Women at OSH,” chronicles the experiences of women in the state hospital from its opening in 1883 until 1920. The exhibit includes accounts from women committed to the hospital during the period and examines the role the women’s suffrage movement played in their diagnosis and care, the release said.
To limit the number of people inside the museum at once, advance ticket purchases are required to visit. Tickets are $7 for adults, $6 for students and seniors, and free for children under 10. Members can visit for free but must reserve an appointment.
One-hour visits are available from noon to 4 p.m. Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, as well as on Monday, May 31. Face masks are required inside the museum. More information and reservations are available on the museum website.
-Rachel Alexander
