In the mid-19th century, Thomas Maxey, a patient at the New York Lunatic Asylum on Blackwell's Island, built Fort Maxey, a strange structure complete with cannons, a garden of tall flowers, and mysterious carvings.

The infamous New York Lunatic Asylum has its share of chilling stories. But one odd, forgotten story is the tale of a mysterious man who took it upon himself to build a bizarre, hobbit-hole like "fort," which included a bridge, a bizarre stone gateway, and a toll for curious visitors.

Thomas Maxey, the "lunatic" who built the structure single-handedly, believed that the government would one day realize how valuable the fort was and purchase it from him. But in the meantime, he lived in the fort himself, surrounding himself with hollyhocks and broken weapons, donning pretty hats, and regaling his guests with stories about mythology and the ancients.

Highlights include: • An infamous lunatic asylum • An "insane" man who seems smarter than most sane people • People being committed to the asylum for no reason • Nellie Bly's gutsy investigative reporting • Some follow-up on the Luxor, and magical triangles

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