Texas Prison Museum, Criminal justice museum in Huntsville, United States.
The Texas Prison Museum is a criminal justice museum that displays exhibits about the history of prisons in Texas. The collection features a full-scale replica of a prison cell, objects from daily life inside, and various items made by inmates.
The museum documents the history of execution methods in Texas, including the use of an electric chair called Old Sparky from 1924 to 1964. This tool became a turning point as the state later shifted to different execution approaches.
Artwork and furniture created by inmates show the craftsmanship and creativity that developed within the system. You see how prisoners spent their time through handmade objects and pieces that reflect daily routines.
The museum sits northwest of Huntsville, off Texas State Highway 75 at Interstate 45 Exit 118, a drive from the downtown courthouse square where it opened in 1989. Parking is on site, and the galleries are indoors, so visits work in any weather. Allow time to read the labels and watch the rodeo and cell displays.
The collection displays confiscated weapons and makeshift tools that inmates concealed over decades. These objects reveal the security challenges guards faced and the ingenuity prisoners showed in working around restrictions.
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