The Weston State Hospital (originally built under the name of the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum) in Weston, West Virginia was constructed between 1858- 1881 and is the largest hand-cut stone masonry building in all of North America. The state hospital was built under the Kirkbride Plan which was a building design theory for mental institutions created by American psychiatrist, doctor Thomas Story Kirkbride. The Kirkbride plan consisted of Kirkbride’s "linear plan" asylum with a central administration building with staggered patient wings on each side, resembling the shape of bat wings. One wing would be for male patients, and one adjacent to the other would be for female patients . Kirkbride structures were built with tall ceilings, lots of natural light and airflow due to the layout of the staggered buildings, and many colors. These attributes fit Thomas Kirkbride’s theory of aiding the cure to mental illness with the environment. This plan was put in place for the construction of many mental institutions around the United States, with the Weston State Hospital being one of them. The hospital officially accepted its first patients in 1864 under the name of the West Virginia Hospital for the Insane. However, due to delays in construction following the American Civil war, construction of the Kirkbride wouldn’t be completed until 1881. The hospital was self-sufficient, and it had its own farm, dairy, waterworks, a gas well (drilled In 1902), and a cemetery. In 1913, the hospital was renamed the Weston State Hospital. Patients were admitted to state-run psychiatric facilities at the time for a variety of reasons, and this quickly led to overcrowding of mental facilities across the country at a point. Weston State Hospital was no different, as it peaked at around 2,600 patients by the 1950s with minimal space. Overtime, however, more facilities were built on the property of the State Hospital to serve patients of various needs. Aside from the Kirkbride, the campus had a medical building, criminally insane building, geriatrics building, a greenhouse, laundry building, and several other outer buildings to serve different purposes over periods of time. The hospital continued to function over the years however like the majority of mental institutions, the Weston State Hospital began to see a major decline in patients by the 1980’s due to the rise of psychotropic drugs such as thorazine which came into play. In 1986, it was announced that the property would be converted into a prison, however this project was never held, and the Weston State Hospital closed its doors for good in 1994. Ever since, the property had sat abandoned, aside from occasional local events on the grounds. Aside from this, the historic buildings continued to sit, decaying with many failed attempts of adaptive reuse. This was until the Weston Hospital Revitalization Committee, was formed in 2000 for the preservation of the complex and finding appropriate tenants. Small museum businesses eventually opened on the first floor of the Kirkbride in 2004, but this was closed down shortly after due to fire code violations. Time continued to pass, until the property was finally purchased by a man named Joe Jordan, an asbestos demolition contractor. A plan was soon put in place to keep the complex the way it was with proper maintenance done to make the property safe for visitors. In 2007, the first large event was held on the former State Hospital grounds which included paranormal tours, and historic tours inside, and outside the buildings. This is when the Trans Allegany Lunatic Asylum organization begun, and several renovations took place on the first floor of the Kirkbride’s administration building, first two wings on each side, and other parts of the complex for museum, and tour purposes. However the rest was kept the way it was with proper abatement, and ongoing maintaining of the buildings. Museum sections have old remnants from the hospital, with many other historic items to be shown. As of now, the former State Hospital continues to be open for guided ghost tours, historic tours, and occasional free-roam photography tours. While the Weston State Hospital/ Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum continues to sit mostly empty, it is a well-known tourist destination for road-trippers passing through West Virginia, and it continues to be documented, and appreciated by many.