There are 10 abandoned prisons hidden around the United States, and one of them might be in your backyard
The history of crime and punishment in the United States is a fascinating and complicated affair. Many medieval penitentiaries became quiet as views regarding imprisonment and crime altered over time. These abandoned jails are hauntingly beautiful, tragic, and disturbing.
#1 Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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From 1829 until 1971, Eastern State Penitentiary was in operation. When it was initially erected, the jail was the biggest and most expensive public facility ever built.
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Many areas of the penitentiary have been preserved precisely as they were. The antique barber chair from the jail is still rooted to the floor of the barber business.
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One of the most remarkable places in this jail is the luxury cell of Al Capone, an American criminal, and a former convict.
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Eastern State Penitentiary is a National Historic Landmark that is available to the public today.
#2 Ohio: Mansfield State Reformatory
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This jail, also known as the Mansfield Reformatory, opened in 1886 and closed in 1990.
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The East Cell Block remains the world’s biggest free-standing steel cell block.
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This was the jail where a big portion of “The Shawshank Redemption” was filmed (1994).
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The jail is being restored, while most of the building is still in disrepair.
#3 Moundsville, West Virginia: West Virginia State Penitentiary
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From 1876 through 1995, this Gothic-style jail was in operation.
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At least, 94 persons were executed at this jail. Inmate Paul Glenn actually constructed “Old Sparky,”the Prison’s electric chair.
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The penitentiary is now available for tours. It also acts as a training center for police enforcement personnel.
#4 Rawlins, Wyoming: Wyoming Frontier Prison
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This jail opened in 1880 and housed around 500 medium-security offenders.
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In 1945, inmate Henry Ruhl was executed at the Frontier Prison. To date, he is the only person in Wyoming who has been executed by the federal government.
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The structure is now a museum with guided tours. Exhibits about the former prison are also available to visitors.
#5 Alcatraz Federal Penitentiary in San Francisco, California
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This facility was constructed as a military jail in 1912 and served as a federal prison from 1934 until1963.
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Alcatraz was considered America’s most isolated and secure jail due to its position in San Francisco Bay.
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However, 36 inmates attempted 14 escapes over the prison’s lifespan. The sole successful effort was by convicts Frank Morris, John Anglin, and Clarence Anglin in 1962.
#6 Idaho: Boise’s Old Idaho State Penitentiary
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This penitentiary, which functioned from 1872 until 1973, is barely ten years older than Idaho itself.
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The jail was designed to accommodate 600 people and has seen over 13,000 convicts during its lifespan.
#7 Tennessee State Prison, Nashville, Tennessee
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This ancient jail, located in downtown Nashville, opened in 1898 and closed in 1992.
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Inmate labor was used to construct most of the facility. Prisoners were forced to labor up to 16 hours a day on little nourishment.
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Riots and unrestrained prisoner violence aided in the closing of the institution.
#8 Atlanta Prison Farm, Atlanta, Georgia
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This jail housed a large number of low-level criminals who were doing time for ordinance or traffic violations.
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Prisoners spent their time farming, caring for animals, creating canned foods, and assisting with the prison dairy’s operation.
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After 50 years of existence, the jail was closed in 1995. In 2009, a fire destroyed part of the jail after firemen judged that putting out the fire was not worth the danger in the case of this elderly institution.
#9 Newark, New Jersey: Old Essex County Jail
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This facility (also known as the Newark Street Jail) opened in 1937 and closed in 1970.
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The inside is unstable and not guaranteed to be secure, making it a popular site for urban exploration.
#10 Roseville State Prison, Roseville, Ohio
The Roseville State Prison, which was opened in 1927, was initially intended to serve as a satellite prison for the Ohio State Penitentiary.
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After two dangerous offenders escaped while working in the prison’s brickmaking activity, the jail was shuttered in 1967.
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