Oregon State Hospital vocal critic of the opening of the new state hospital, believing the state was ill-prepared to care for patients adequately. The Oregon constitution mandated that state hospitals be built in the capital city of Salem. Groundbreaking began May 1, 1881, and the hospital was completed in 1883. The newly-built, state-funded hospital opened as the Oregon State Insane Asylum on October 23, 1883, and was constructed based on the Kirkbride Plan for a total of $184,000 (). Its architecture is Italianate in style, and was designed by W.F. Boothby. Dr. Simeon Josephi was appointed superintendent of the hospital from its opening
Oregon State Capitol was transplanted to the capitol in 1976 from Oregon State University. On the east side of the building is Capitol Park, which includes a bronze equestrian statue by A. Phimister Proctor called "The Circuit Rider", statues of Jason Lee ("Jason Lee") and John McLoughlin ("John McLoughlin") by Gifford Proctor, and portions of the Corinthian columns of the second capitol building. Lee established the Methodist Mission and what would become Willamette University. McLoughlin, of the Hudson's Bay Company, was proclaimed the Father of Oregon. "The Circuit Rider" was added in 1924 as a monument to early preachers. During the Columbus Day