Panopticon, Prison museum in Quito historical center, Ecuador.
The Panopticon is a neoclassical building in Quito's historic center featuring five pavilions arranged around a central observation point. The structure spans multiple levels and was designed to allow complete supervision of all areas from this central vantage point.
Architect Thomas Reed designed this penitentiary following European models, with construction completed in 1875. The facility served as Ecuador's primary prison for over a century before its transformation.
The building represents 19th-century ideas about how to run a prison more efficiently through a single central observation point. Visitors can walk through the spaces and see how this design shaped daily routines and control within the walls.
Visitors can explore the interior of the former prison, with guided tours providing insight into the cell blocks and daily conditions. The best time to visit is during regular hours when knowledgeable guides are available.
The building operated continuously as a prison for nearly 140 years until it closed in 2014. Its transformation into a museum space made the history of Ecuador's criminal justice system publicly accessible.
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