Portsmouth Naval Prison, Military prison at Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, Maine.
The reinforced concrete structure rises like a castle on the grounds of Portsmouth Naval Shipyard, overlooking the Piscataqua River between Maine and New Hampshire.
From 1908 to 1974, this naval prison housed over 86,000 inmates from the Navy and Marine Corps, reaching peak capacity during World War I with 2,295 prisoners.
The prison influenced popular culture through appearances in the 1973 film The Last Detail and Stephen King's novella The Body, later adapted as Stand By Me.
Strong tidal currents surrounding the prison facility created natural barriers against escape attempts, similar to the conditions at Alcatraz in San Francisco Bay.
Lieutenant Commander Thomas Mott Osborne conducted undercover investigations within the prison walls in 1917 to improve conditions for inmates.
GPS coordinates: 43.07610,-70.73110
Latest update: May 27, 2025 08:52
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