Napa, because of its natural beauty and optimal conditions for "moral treatment," was chosen as the second site for a state hospital to ease overcrowding in Stockton Asylum. When the fully self-sustaining Napa Asylum opened in 1875, it quickly filled to capacity and became home to many people suffering from mental illness, alcoholism, grief, and depression. In 1924, Napa Asylum was renamed Napa State Hospital to reflect changes in the medical model and treatments for psychiatric patients. Covering the first 100 years of the hospital's history, this unique book tells the story of the institution and the people for whom it served as employer. Known locally as Imola, this beautiful site became an integral part of the community.
Patricia Prestinary is a librarian and archivist who discovered the history of the Napa State Hospital through her volunteer work with the Napa Historical Society and Napa County Landmarks. The images in this collection come from the Napa Historical Society, California State Library, the Napa State Hospital, the Bancroft Library, and the personal collections of former staff members, among others.