It is a large facility, consisting of 23 buildings on 216 acres (87 ha), that was built in 1934 and closed in 1981 due to asbestos.

The buildings are characterized by broken glass, peeling paint, corroded walls and overgrown vines.

This is primarily due to their close distance to Glenn Dale Road, a local street that bisects the hospital grounds.

Contrary to popular belief, the large incinerator present on the hospital grounds was not used for the destruction of human remains.

In 1994, Maryland enacted a law that requires if the grounds are sold, they are supposed to be used as a continuing care retirement community.

[1] In 2014, Preservation Maryland placed the Glenn Dale Hospital on its list of threatened historic properties.

[8] The hospital was featured in an award-winning Washington Post Magazine article, "Quarantined," on Dec. 10, 2006 by Leah Y. Latimer, former staff writer and author.