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 Defense Force OMD has temporarily suspended the Oregon State Defense Force. However, a spokesman for the Oregon Military Department stated on record that the suspension was temporary and the ORSDF would return to active service. As of December 2018, the Oregon Military Department has yet to keep its promise. Since Oregon law requires the state to maintain the ORSDF at a cadre level during peacetime, a reinstatement of the force is required in order to reattain compliance with the law. As of late 2017 the Oregon State Defense Force has been renamed under Oregon state law as the Oregon Civil Defense Force.