The hospital was first built under the name Meriden Sanatorium to serve children with tuberculosis, German measles, chickenpox, and smallpox, but began to accept adult patients in 1939.
There are several newly built DDS buildings that house mentally and physically disabled residents under the care of the state, DDS field offices, residential programs, day services programs, a respite center, and maintenance operations.
Connecticut prohibits the public from accessing the grounds and recently removed the Undercliff Road sign.
The state is debating whether a portion of the property can be utilized for economic development to generate revenue to pay for city expenses.
However Cliff House and the larger building at the top of the campus may be uninhabitable because of Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 compliance issues.