Formerly known as the Weston State Hospital, the Trans-Allegheny Lunatic Asylum (TALA) was built on 666 acres and was meant to serve as a sanctuary for the mentally ill when it opened in 1864. Most of the early work was done by prison labor, it began taking residents in 1861 long before it was completed, and patients were continually added until the structure was completed some 20 years later. It was still in operation as an asylum in 1994 when it was closed. It is considered one of the most ha [...]