Magazine of the University of Montana School of Journalism
Montana State Hospital Timeline
A brief history highlighting the hospital’s important events from 1874 to the present day
By Trey Lawrence. Print graphic by Jake LaHaie. Photo by Fox Croasmunchristensen.
AP News, Archives West, Paul Lombardo, Archive Grid, Julius Paul, Montana Public Radio, Montana Free Press | Sources
1874
The Montana territorial government decided it needed a facility specifically for patients dealing with mental health issues.
1906
Name changed to Insane Asylum of the State of Montana.
1909
Name changed again, this time to Montana State Hospital for the Insane.
1910
A constitutional amendment passed, allowing the state to acquire the privately owned hospital.
1912
Montana State Hospital for the Insane became an official state institution.
1917
The Governor of Montana, Sam V. Stewart, appointed a special commission to investigate charges of gross mismanagement and corruption at the hospital. Hospital management was exonerated of all charge. Under the state, the emphasis gradually changed from a custodial asylum to more of a true hospital as modern procedures were adopted.
1923
Montana Governor Joseph M. Dixon signed into low the Montana eugenic sterilization law. This law led to the eventual sterilization of more than 200 Montanans dealing with mental illness.
1924
Warm Springs made headlines when it was reported that eleven inmates had been forcibly sterilized. Hospital staff reported the sterilizations were necessary “for Montana’s future.”
1943
State legislature renamed the hospital to Montana State Hospital.
1954
Montana State Hospital reached its highest capacity, housing nearly 2,000 patients. Forced sterilizations stopped around 1960, but the law wasn’t repealed until 1981. A total of 256 people were forcibly sterilized by Montana’s eugenics program at Montana Hospital for the Insane.
1967
Hospital renamed again to Warm Springs State Hospital.
1983
Hospital renamed a final time to Montana State Hospital, its official name today.
2021
Five patients died while receiving care at Montana State Hospital. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) imposed a substantial fine and ordered the hospital to improve conditions.
2022
CMS refused to reimburse the hospital for services until conditions improved. The hospital lost sought $7 million in annual funding and ended the year $44 million dollars over its $49 million budget.
Present
Several Montana families filed a lawsuit against the Montana State Hospital, claiming the state failed to protect their loved ones, resulting in their 2021 deaths.
Present
The hospital has space for 270 patients and most are there by state mandate. The 872 Commission is considering the future of the Montana State Hospital as part of a $300 million overhaul of the state’s behavioral system.
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