Old Idaho Penitentiary Site, History museum in Boise, United States
The Old Idaho Penitentiary spans 4 hectares and contains 30 buildings, including cell blocks, gallows, and a multipurpose exhibition center.
From 1872 to 1973, this territorial prison confined more than 13,000 inmates, including 215 women, through the transformation of Idaho from frontier to statehood.
The prison museum presents exhibits about criminal justice reform, featuring personal stories of inmates and guards alongside historical artifacts and photographs.
The facility offers self-guided tours daily from 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM in winter and 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM in summer, with admission fees ranging from $5 to $8.
The J. Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit displays over 200 military weapons spanning four centuries, including medieval arms and World War II firearms.
Location: Boise
Address: 2445 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise, ID 83712
Phone: +(208)3342844
Website: https://history.idaho.gov/location/old-penitentiary
GPS coordinates: 43.60279,-116.16198
Latest update: March 10, 2025 02:56
This selection showcases the monuments, historical buildings, and natural spaces of Boise, Idaho's capital. Discover the Old Penitentiary from 1872, the Capitol with its sandstone dome, and parks like Kathryn Albertson with its wildlife viewing areas. The city also includes cultural institutions such as the Basque Museum, the 1927 Egyptian Art Deco Theater, and natural spaces like the 40 km trail along the Boise River.
Albertsons Stadium
2.7 km
Old Idaho State Penitentiary
2 m
Idaho Botanical Garden
188 m
Assay Office
2.9 km
St. Alphonsus Hospital
3.2 km
Discovery Center of Idaho
3 km
MK Nature Center
1.9 km
Warm Springs Avenue Historic District
1.6 km
Christ Chapel
2.6 km
Garfield School
2.9 km
John A. O'Farrell Cabin
3.1 km
Moore–Cunningham House
1.6 km
Artesian Water Co. Pumphouse and Wells
195 m
Alexander House
2.9 km
Idaho National Guard Armory
2.2 km
West Warm Springs Historic District
2.8 km
Bishop Funsten House
65 m
Hopffgarten House
2.9 km
John Regan American Legion Hall
2.9 km
Rosedale Odd Fellows Temple
2.8 km
Fred Reiger Houses
3 km
Roosevelt School
1.8 km
Reclamation Service Boise Project Office
2.6 km
Kieldson Double House
3.2 km
C. C. Cavanah House
2.7 km
John A. O'Farrell House
2.9 km
H. C. Burnett House
579 m
Joseph Chitwood House
2.7 kmReviews
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