The site is currently used as the Stockton campus of California State University, Stanislaus.

The legislature at the time felt that existing hospitals were incapable of caring for the large numbers of people who suffered from mental and emotional conditions as a result of the California Gold Rush, and authorized the creation of the first public mental health hospital in California.

Peltret wrote a revealing newspaper article about his personal experiences and observations as an inmate.

[4] On May 17, 1853, the Stockton General Hospital changed its name to the Insane Asylum of the State of California.

[5] In April 1856 Dr. Samuel Langdon, the second Superintendent of the asylum in its history, fought a duel with Dr. William Ryer, his assistant physician, resulting in a bullet wound to Dr. Langdon's knee and his eventual replacement as Superintendent.