Oct 20, 2026 · 5 min · 6 segments
For the first time since 2018, Utica’s historic Old Main is reopening for public tours, offering a rare look inside its mysterious halls and a fascinating piece of psychiatric history…
For the first time in eight years, one of Utica's most historic and mysterious buildings is opening its doors to the public.
Old Main, a landmark known for its striking architecture and its connection to New York's psychiatric history, is welcoming visitors back for a limited series of free guided tours later this month.
And this year, there are a few things visitors will be able to see for the very first time.
One of the biggest attractions is an authentic Utica crib, a controversial restraint device once used in psychiatric treatment.
The device, which resembles an enclosed bed, is closely associated with the history of mental health care in Utica.
The best-known surviving intact example was recently returned after being on loan to the Hudson River State Hospital Museum in Poughkeepsie.
Now, visitors will have a rare opportunity to see this piece of medical history inside Old Main itself.
But that's not the only new addition to the tour.
For the first time, visitors will also be able to access portions of the building's second floor.
While safety concerns mean much of the area can only be viewed from behind protective barriers, the expanded access offers a new perspective on a building that has fascinated historians, architecture enthusiasts, and those interested in the supernatural for generations.
The tours will be led by officials from the New York State Office of Mental Health, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the building and its place in the history of psychiatric care.
Tours are scheduled for Monday, October 26th through Friday, October 30th.
They'll run from 10 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon, with a new tour beginning every 30 minutes.
And here's the good news.
Admission is completely free.
However, advance registration is required.
Anyone interested in attending must email oldmaintours at omh.ny.gov. Be sure to include the names of everyone attending, your preferred date and time, and any school or organizational affiliation.
Visitors who need wheelchair accommodations should also mention those arrangements when registering.
With public access returning for the first time since 2018, this is a rare chance to step inside one of Utica's most recognizable historic landmarks.
Whether you're drawn to its architecture, its complicated medical history, or simply the mystery surrounding its long corridors, Old Main is offering a unique opportunity to explore a fascinating chapter of Central New York's past.
And with tours available for just five days, those interested may want to make their plans early.
For more on this story, check out URSentinel.com.
For the first time in eight years, one of Utica's most historic and mysterious buildings is opening its doors to the public.
Old Main, a landmark known for its striking architecture and its connection to New York's psychiatric history, is welcoming visitors back for a limited series of free guided tours later this month.
And this year, there are a few things visitors will be able to see for the very first time.
One of the biggest attractions is an authentic Utica crib, a controversial restraint device once used in psychiatric treatment.
The device, which resembles an enclosed bed, is closely associated with the history of mental health care in Utica.
The best-known surviving intact example was recently returned after being on loan to the Hudson River State Hospital Museum in Poughkeepsie.
Now, visitors will have a rare opportunity to see this piece of medical history inside Old Main itself.
But that's not the only new addition to the tour.
For the first time, visitors will also be able to access portions of the building's second floor.
While safety concerns mean much of the area can only be viewed from behind protective barriers, the expanded access offers a new perspective on a building that has fascinated historians, architecture enthusiasts, and those interested in the supernatural for generations.
The tours will be led by officials from the New York State Office of Mental Health, giving visitors an opportunity to learn more about the building and its place in the history of psychiatric care.
Tours are scheduled for Monday, October 26th through Friday, October 30th.
They'll run from 10 in the morning until 2 in the afternoon, with a new tour beginning every 30 minutes.
And here's the good news.
Admission is completely free.
However, advance registration is required.
Anyone interested in attending must email oldmaintours at omh.ny.gov. Be sure to include the names of everyone attending, your preferred date and time, and any school or organizational affiliation.
Visitors who need wheelchair accommodations should also mention those arrangements when registering.
With public access returning for the first time since 2018, this is a rare chance to step inside one of Utica's most recognizable historic landmarks.
Whether you're drawn to its architecture, its complicated medical history, or simply the mystery surrounding its long corridors, Old Main is offering a unique opportunity to explore a fascinating chapter of Central New York's past.
And with tours available for just five days, those interested may want to make their plans early.
For more on this story, check out URSentinel.com.
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