[3] The facility was founded in 1844 as Rhode Island's first exclusively mental health hospital.

Industrialist Cyrus Butler donated heavily to the hospital, and it was named in his honor.

Butler no longer has children's programs, as those were taken over by Bradley Hospital in East Providence.

As an internationally recognized research center, Butler participates in many research initiatives including studies in major depression, obsessive compulsive disorder, Alzheimer's disease and other memory disorders, depression and anxiety in dementia caregivers, substance abuse and family violence, smoking cessation, and movement disorders such as Parkinson's disease.

Mary Marran is the President and Chief Operating Officer, and the Chairman of the Board is George W.