The popular Glore Psychiatric Museum, St. Joseph, MO, is currently closed, kicked out of its old haunt by the Missouri prison system. Founder, frontman, and diorama-builder George Glore had recently retired (NO! All of our attraction alarms are ringing). The plan is to move the museum to an even bigger space just down the block (next to Woodson Hospital).

They are scheduled to reopen around Thanksgiving, 1997.

Fever-cabinet used for heat treatment of syphilitic patients.

The museum was started in 1967 by Glore, a lifetime employee of the Missouri mental health system. It was started "with things found in an attic," and grew to include artifacts donated by other institutions and former patients. The museum was housed in an old treatment wing of the facility, and featured imaginatively constructed dioramas of mental institution history. There was a working model of O'Halloran's Swing -- patients were strapped in sitting down, and then spun at up to 100 RPMs. Cold pack treatments, the " Bath of Surprise," and the infamous Tranquilizer Chair were other visitor favorites.

Glore and O'Halloran's Swing[13k jpeg image]

Glore was always quick to point out how treatment has vastly improved in the past 25 years. Ever sensitive to disrespect for patients or the institution, Glore discouraged us from using terms such as "insane asylum," "nut house," "booby hatch," or "bug-eater's dream."

The museum was eventually renamed after its founder, Glore. Smilers are sweating out the wait for the reopening. As one lamented: "Sadly, this messed up our youth group's upcoming roadside mystery tour."

The new curator promises that all of George's classic displays will be kept and many new ones will be added. The museum is expanding to four full floors of exhibits, perhaps reflecting the increasing mental baggage of our times. They're still having difficulty finding enough mannequins to portray all the crazy people. [08/18/1997]

November 26, 2009