My parents and I made it out to the Old Idaho Penitentiary on one of the last warm days here. The Penitentiary, an Idaho State Historical Site, housed criminals from 1870 to 1973. It is interesting to note that even though my parents have lived in Idaho for a long time, this was their first visit. We took the self-guided walking tour around the facility, looking inside the old buildings and browsing through the various exhibits.
Construction began on the Old Penitentiary in 1870 when Idaho was still a territory. The buildings were built by the convicts who quarried the nearby sandstone for construction. The 17 ft. walls that surround the prison and guard towers were also built from the sandstone. When Idaho became a state in 1890, the former Territorial Prison became the Idaho State Penitentiary.
As the prison grew, more and more buildings were added to the area. More cell houses were added, along with a dining hall, a recreation area, a separate ward for women, a chapel, and a building for solitary confinement. There was also a maximum security building for hard-core prisoners, death row inmates, and the gallows. The gallows was only put to use once while the rest of the ten executions held there took place outside.
The Old Idaho State Penitentiary features some good exhibits on the grounds, including ones on electricity and prison tattoo art. I especially recommend visiting the J.C. Earl Exhibit called "Arms and Armament Though the Ages". This is an exhibit that showcases many different weapons from the beginning of time up to the Vietnam War. It is amazing to see because all these weapons came from one man's collection!
A riot that broke out in 1973 ended with considerable damage done to the buildings of the penitentiary and hastened its closure. In December of that year, the inmates were moved to a new prison, and the Old Idaho Penitentiary was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. If you are visiting Boise or just passing through, I would recommend a visit!
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Construction began on the Old Penitentiary in 1870 when Idaho was still a territory. The buildings were built by the convicts who quarried the nearby sandstone for construction. The 17 ft. walls that surround the prison and guard towers were also built from the sandstone. When Idaho became a state in 1890, the former Territorial Prison became the Idaho State Penitentiary.
As the prison grew, more and more buildings were added to the area. More cell houses were added, along with a dining hall, a recreation area, a separate ward for women, a chapel, and a building for solitary confinement. There was also a maximum security building for hard-core prisoners, death row inmates, and the gallows. The gallows was only put to use once while the rest of the ten executions held there took place outside.
The Old Idaho State Penitentiary features some good exhibits on the grounds, including ones on electricity and prison tattoo art. I especially recommend visiting the J.C. Earl Exhibit called "Arms and Armament Though the Ages". This is an exhibit that showcases many different weapons from the beginning of time up to the Vietnam War. It is amazing to see because all these weapons came from one man's collection!A riot that broke out in 1973 ended with considerable damage done to the buildings of the penitentiary and hastened its closure. In December of that year, the inmates were moved to a new prison, and the Old Idaho Penitentiary was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974. If you are visiting Boise or just passing through, I would recommend a visit!
Links to Learn More
