The Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center is still open. It is used as a treatment center for mentally ill persons. They also have other programs at the facility as well now, CD rehab and other programs. It originally was the Anoka Insane Asylum - then called the Anoka Asylum and then the Anoka State Hospital. The name changed to RTC about 15 years ago when the state of Minnesota renamed all the state hospitals. It housed people who had all sorts of real or imagined mental illnesses. Back in the early days there was no clear psychiatric treatment and people were locked up in asylums for all sorts of behavior that might be out of the norm. Anything from the "usual" mental illnesses, to children who didn't behave as was expected of them. I can tell you some very sad stories of the old former "inmates" which is what the patients were called. It was a holding center so the people were "inmates" and there was no treatment, just beds and chairs and food. Thankfully that has all changed, but for many years it was horrible what was done with these individuals. The records are available. You have to show evidence that you are related and that you want the information FOR MEDICAL PURPOSES. This might be to determine if the illness might "run in the family", for example. The address is Anoka Metro Regional Treatment Center 3300 4th Ave N Anoka, MN 55303 ph: 763-712-4000 I hope they can help. Jo Hogle

Hi, I read with interest the reply to the Minnesota Genealogy List the information on the Anoka State Hospital. Would you know if information might be available from other Minnesota Mental Hospitals? I have two ancestors who lived in two such institutions: Wilmer State Hospital and Saint Peters State Hospital. Both are deceased now. I am a direct descendent of both of them and the eldest living next of kin. I would very much wish to see some medical records. Thanks, Jane