Central State Hospital in Petersburg, Virginia, is believed to be haunted due to its troubled history, which includes institutional racism, abuse, and the suffering of countless patients over more than a century. The original Central Lunatic Asylum for Colored Insane was the first state institution for Black people with mental illness in the country, but this history is marred by abuse and exploitation. Dark, unexplained figures are seen moving in hallways and throughout the grounds. Moans, wails, screams, and disembodied voices are often heard echoing from the abandoned and deteriorating buildings. Items have been reported to move on their own, and doors are said to slam shut unexpectedly. Lights turn on and off without explanation. Many believe the lingering pain and sorrow of those who lived and died at the facility are responsible for the unsettling, dark energy surrounding the campus.