Central State Hospital - Real Haunt in Petersburg VA

Originally named the Central Lunatic Hospital, Central State Hospital was founded in 1870 as a to treat “colored persons of unsound mind,” making it the first Virginian mental health facility to exclusively cater to the black population. Its name was changed in 1895, following the passing of a state law requiring facilities then known as asylums to instead be called hospitals. The hospital did not begin treating people of other races until 1967, three years after the Civil Rights Act was passed. Locals say they have witnessed paranormal activity on the hospital grounds, seeing strange phenomena and hearing inexplicable sounds.

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