[2] The hospital was established in 1889 and opened in July 1893, and the first superintendent was Dr. Edward Warren King.

T. L. Carothers filed charges against Dr. Edward Warren King, for reasons including, "incompetency, lack of medical skill, high-handed and dictatorial methods, lack of ability to command respect of his subordinates" and other charges.

[4] This hospital was the destination for inmates charged with crimes but found not guilty by reason of insanity.

Two additional wards were built in 1910 and 1918, respectively and a major renovation and expansion of the facility took place between 1925 and 1933.

Increasing discharges and transfer of the criminally insane to the Atascadero State Hospital eased the overcrowding.