The Elizabeth Arkham Asylum is a psychiatric hospital for the criminally insane, located in Gotham City, Jersey state, USA.

It's located on a small island, connected to the mainland via a bridge.

Arkham Asylum was founded in 1921 by Armadeus Arkham. He converted his historical family manor into an asylum & named it after his mother who's mental illness led to her untimely death. In reality, Amadeus had euthanized her, although he repressed that memory.

After the violation & murder of his wife (Constance) & young daughter (Harriet) by a serial killer, Amadeus would slowly succome to madness himself. His sanity worsened after his remembered he euthanized his mother, after getting high on the amanita mushroom.

He was incarcerated in his own asylum after attempting to murder his stockbroker in 1928 & died within the walls of his cell.

The asylum remains open to this day, under numerous administers such as Achilles Milo, Robert Huntoon, Charles Cavendish, Quincy Sharp & Amadues's own nephew: Jeremiah Arkham at one point.

Since the 1920s, Arkham Asylum has been destroyed, usually violently, on multiple occasions & rebuilt or expanded; for those patients with unique security or health considerations, customized facilities have been installed at considerable expense.

The asylum has continued to grow larger & more modern in appearance, although as the lion's share of the budget is devoted to security treatment options have inevitably suffered. Despite the installation of advanced technological security measures in the era of metahuman criminals, the inmates have still been able to escape or take control of the facilities from time to time.

Because of the age of the building & the grounds it stands on, Arkham Asylum has been rumoured to be haunted by the ghosts of deceased inmates & even haunted by Armadeus Arkham & his wife & daughter. Some even claim the Arkham island turns people insane just for being on it for too long.