Question 1

Do we get to enter the buildings?

Accepted Answer

No, most of the former Dix buildings are now privately owned, and we are therefore unable to access the interior.

Question 2

What makes this tour so special?

Accepted Answer

This tour is hosted by Andrew Nason, a veteran of museum education and historical writing focused on North Carolina history.

Question 3

How long does the tour travel? How long?

Accepted Answer

It lasts about an hour, and travels a total of 0.75 miles.

Question 4

What makes this history so "dark"

Accepted Answer

The history on this tour focuses on many of the disturbing elements of life in a late 19th-early 20th century asylum, including eugenics, housing conditions, exploitation of agricultural labor among patients, while examining the history of mental health treatment in America as a whole.

Dorothea Dix Asylum - Dark History Tour