3,485 Comments for Philadelphia State Hospital (Byberry)

From the photos I've seen, it did look OK on opening day (even though the architecture is quite bland and does resemble a slaughterhouse in many ways), but as time went on it got pretty bad. I'll see if I can scan in some photos from the Times article on Byberry, there's a few photographs of the patients living in their own filth inside rooms like these.

If this were lit and clean it wouldn't look so bad. I've worked in hospitals built in the 1960s that looked like this.

I don't want to minimize the conditions at Byberry, but this ward does not look as if it were all that horrible in its heyday. WIth filth, falling plaster, and graffiti all over the place now, it does look terrible in this photo. Imagining it clean and well-lit paints a different picture.

what now bitches (security)

Radicalness!! That's not me bro. I wouldn't put that faggotry up there, hahaha RD. Probly that micheal jackson character, remember him... er, her...er it?

Yeah, he's 16

This is actually not a gymnasium at all. It was originally built as a kitchen/cafeteria building. This was the women's cafeteria. There's an old shot of it from the 30's on the jeffline archives. It was later used as an occupational therapy suite.

It's hard for many to realize, but tagging is sort of a trait of byberry explorers since it closed. I too, personally hate the fires *ahem*, and all the senseless destruction. Productivity seems a better way to spend time in a place you plan on coming back to over and over. But tagging has always been synonamous with byberry. Its part of what makes byberry byberry, like it or not. I agree with Ed about how worng it is to tag at other places, ( i feel like a shmuck for my few tags at Pennhurst). But it will always be part of byberry, so can we keep the bitching to ourselves please? If its not your thing, don't come to "the berry".

Tenaj, which building and what room number? I'll run over and take a picture of it if it's still there. Since it was open for sixteen years after you left, it's probably no longer orange, but you never know.

Growing uo near Byberry and hearing the stories always intrigued me to visit. But thanks to your photos, I am safe right here in front of my computer

i worked there from 1972-74. did you ever come across my office. the door trim I painted in bright orange.

I agree with the fact that the tagging disrupts the overall feel of the place I am fascinated by freaky old building especially one with a history. The tagging --ok I cant completly plain taggers !! For all those who tag, burn, and deface property that would be so much more exciting if untouched.
All the defacing takes away from the sterile disturbing feel and now that we know millions of others have been there (obviously if there names are every where) the forbidden feeling is left with diappointment. just imagine how cool these pictures would look if there we no damage beside of age and weathering it would be a thrill seekers dream now it looks like a local hang out!

Beleive it or not, you can actually walk on top of these hallways. Ive seen 200+ pound guys do it.

HELL

hey red dragon the stencil you speek of couldent possible be the one of a red dragon thats all over by berry now could it???