Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum opens for 2025 season
Recognized as one of America's most historic and mysterious asylums, the site offers guided tours on a first-come, first-served basis. Tours are available six days a week, operating from noon on Tuesdays through Fridays and Sundays, with an earlier opening at 10 a.m. on Saturdays.
Filming and Events Manager of the rans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum Michelle Graham was happy to see new and returning faces.
'What's really exciting is that people that come back year after year, we kind of take a culmination of all the experiences that people have, and we incorporate those experiences into our tour so that people can hear about the things that are happening to guests who return,' Graham said. 'It's always fun to showcase that. I think people are really interested in the unknown and this is a really good way for them to still be a part of our history but also explore some of their excitement that they have when they come here.'
History Over Horror: What life was really like inside the Trans Allegheny Lunatic Asylum
Guests wanting a tour can choose from three 45-minute tours or three extended 90-minute tours, each highlighting different sections of the asylum and its rich history.
'We have just started with the Friends Auxiliary of Sharpe Hospital and we started a SMILE initiative, which is sending mail, love, and encouragement where our guest can send a little note of love and encouragement to patients who reside at Sharpe Hospital to give them a little bit of a brighter day,' Graham said.
The tour options are:
First Floor Tour (45 min) — Explore the maximum-security wing, Arts & Crafts area, and auxiliary buildings while learning about historical treatments, patient and staff life, and the architectural significance of this renowned asylum.
First Floor South Tour (45 min) — Step into the oldest section of the asylum, originally constructed by Virginia and West Virginia. This tour delves into Civil War-era stories, intricate architectural details, and firsthand accounts of patients' experiences.
Criminally Insane Tour (45 min) — Held in the Forensics Building, this tour provides insight into the admissions process for the criminally insane, as well as infamous escape stories from the facility's past.
Daytime Paranormal Tour (90 min) —Explore four of the asylum's most paranormally active locations. Guests must remain with their guide at all times as they uncover eerie encounters and unexplained phenomena.
First Floor Plus Tour (90 min) — One of the most in-depth historical tours, this experience covers 130 years of asylum history, including treatments, construction, and daily life within the wards. This tour involves multiple flights of stairs and approximately one mile of walking. Please note, there are no elevators available.
VIP Asylum Tour (90 min, Offered Wednesdays & Saturdays) — Led by expert guides without fixed scripts, this exclusive tour is customized to the group's interests. Topics may include the asylum's history, paranormal activity, Civil War connections, and medical treatments.
You can learn more about the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum on its website.
Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
3 hours ago
- Yahoo
Unearthed Story From James Bond Creator Will Shock Longtime Fans
If you're browsing the magazine section at your local bookstore, you should 100 percent grab a copy of the latest print edition of Men's Journal. And, after that, if you're ready to totally rethink your assumptions about James Bond creator Ian Fleming, you pick up an issue of the mystery magazine The Strand. In it, you'll find a recently rediscovered story penned by Fleming, which will make even his biggest fans think differently about his writing and reputation. Here's why this newly rediscovered Fleming short story is so cool, where to read it, and what it means for the legacy of James Bond. What is the new Ian Fleming short story? In the current issue of The Strand magazine, the long-time mystery and thriller publication has recently unearthed stories from both Ian Fleming and Graham Greene. The Fleming story in The Strand is titled "The Shameful Dream," and it's not about a spy or an assassin at all. Instead, the story is about an editor of a literary magazine who is 100 percent certain he's going to get fired from his job, because he's been ominously summoned to a meeting with his very rich boss. With a good amount of humor, but also self-deprecation, the narrator goes into all sorts of hypothetical situations in his mind, but also recalls the ways in which many of his other colleagues were fired or maneuvered into quitting outright. The stakes are oddly low, but the psychological realism and wit are compelling and gripping. This is a story that represents what Fleming might have been like had he not become a thriller writer, but instead, a writer of odd short stories. Fleming was very good friends with the author Kingsley Amis in real life. This story has more of a touch of that kind of writing, a sort of short story version of Lucky Jim with smart observations about social class and money. It may not be the greatest Fleming work of all time, but it is a revelation. Before he invented James Bond, Fleming's older brother, Peter Fleming, was a well-known writer and considered a true literary talent. In some ways, "The Shameful Dream" represents a road not taken for Ian Fleming, a style of writing that may have put him in the same class as his there more lost Ian Fleming Stories? The newest unearthed Ian Fleming short story in The Strand is not the only bit of new lost Fleming writing out there. It's actually an excerpt from a new book called Talk of the Devil, which was published in May in the U.S. by Harper Collins. Talk of the Devil includes this new short story, as well as several unpublished essays and various travelogues, which Fleming was famous for. While we're waiting for more news about the next James Bond film, The Strand's new excerpt and Talk of the Devil are great ways to dive deep into the universe of James Bond, and into unexplored artistic territories, charted by the man who started it Story From James Bond Creator Will Shock Longtime Fans first appeared on Men's Journal on Jul 24, 2025 Solve the daily Crossword
Hypebeast
10 hours ago
- Hypebeast
xaviersobased Cleans Up Nice on Refined Six-Track EP, 'once more'
Summary Plugged into a myriad of hip hop subcultures for years now,xaviersobasedhas become one of the key faces behind powering the current underground scene. At just 21 years old, the New York City-born and bred rapper/producer now has a double-digit number of mixtapes, EPs, and albums under his belt, each one further fleshing out his distinct sound: a raw, pieced-together patchwork of different music subgenres ranging from jerk and cloud rap to pluggnb and even hyperpop, all the while still dripping in his Day 1, internet-era influence. Xavier's latest EP comes as a surprise drop; entitledonce more,the tape rounds out at just six tracks in total, with track two, 'fly,' featuring Backend on production, and tracks three and four – 'uncomfy' and 'worth it' – both featuring fellow pioneering underground voice from just a few states south,OsamaSon. Despiteonce morebeing a spur-of-the-moment drop, the project sounds more polished than Xavier's past endeavors. Still riddled with the same post-SoundCloud-era, self-made energy that got him to where he is today,once more'sproduction leans into sleek synth melodies and even expands Xavier's genre profile, infusing hazy shoegaze beats throughout. 'i love yall sm jus wanted to drop this ep rq before i announce tht im in album mode rn,' the rapper shared via socials. 'ion want yall to think that im on some mysterious sh*t still gon b an active summer we activee.' 1. she omd onna low2. fly (feat. Backend)3. uncomfy (feat. OsamaSon)4. worth it (feat. OsamaSon)5. red snapper6. ion kno Streamonce more– out on all streaming services now.
Los Angeles Times
11 hours ago
- Los Angeles Times
Welcome Back, Hayley Paige—The Fairytale Continues, On Her Terms
The fashion world is buzzing, and rightfully so. We are beyond thrilled to share the official runway photos from the Hayley Paige 'Twice Upon a Time' presentation, an extraordinary debut held at the legendary Colony Hotel in picture-perfect Palm Beach, Florida. Planned and designed by Whitney Carillon Events and captured flawlessly by La Via Visual, this soirée was a rewritten chapter for Hayley Paige. A whimsical dreamscape of bold storytelling, couture fantasy, and next-generation bridal design that marked a long-awaited return… and a reckoning. In an industry built on love stories, Hayley Paige has lived through a plot twist no one saw coming. Once celebrated as the crown jewel of millennial bridal fashion, known for her twirl-worthy silhouettes, sparkle-laced magic, and Instagram-era bridal voice, Hayley's journey took a devastating detour. A deeply public legal battle over the rights to her own name removed her from the very brand she built, leaving an entire generation of brides (and dreamers) wondering what would come next. But Hayley Paige didn't disappear. She recalibrated. She healed. She fought. And now, after years of silence, strength, and strategic rebuilding, she's back with full creative freedom, ownership, and her signature shine. On July 27, Hayley Paige officially reclaimed the spotlight with the launch of her brand-new 30-piece bridal collection, ushering in a bold new era of design, independence, and storytelling. This isn't just a comeback—it's a creative resurrection. A personal and professional triumph. A masterclass in resilience. While her name was in litigation limbo, Hayley quietly turned heartbreak into horsepower. Through her sculptural bridal shoe brand She is Cheval, she continued pushing the boundaries of bridal fashion. With feminine lines, red carpet-worthy edge and unapologetic flair, Cheval proved what we already Paige's vision never dulled. It simply evolved. Now with Twice Upon a Time she returns to the aisle. But this time she's calling every shot. The 30-piece collection delivers exactly what we've missed: ethereal romance, rule-breaking elegance, and that signature Paige playfulness. But beyond the gowns, there's something even more powerful here: freedom. Ownership. A woman in full. In a world where so many designers lose their names to contracts and corporations, Hayley Paige's comeback is a reminder that reclaiming your voice is always worth the fight. Her story is about fashion and building a legacy. Welcome back, Hayley. The world's been waiting. And this time, the fairytale is yours to write. Event Partners Dress Designer | @misshayleypaige @hayleypaigebride Venue| @thecolonypalmbeach Design and Planning | @whitneycarillonevents Photography | @collinpierson, @laviavisual Videography and Content Creation | @mirarweddings, @laviavisual Lighting Production and DJ | @fyerflyproductions Floral Design | @elliesgarden_ Hair and Makeup | @ladida_beauty Luxury Wedding Network | @thesocieteprivee Additional Event Partners Carpet and Drape| @swagdecor Furniture and Linens | @nuagedesignsinc Invitations | @ruepaperie Violinist | @tiffanymooreviolin Live Painting | @oliviaandrussartistry Lashes and Nails |@tadbeautyshop, @pla_nails Custom Calligraphy Takeaway | @catlaurencalligraphy @carlaschall_designs @pennedbyalice Sweet Treat | @lepetitsweet Photobooth | @jmc_photobooths
