Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, Former territorial prison museum in Laramie, United States
Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site is a former prison complex built from sandstone with multiple functional areas. The grounds contain cell blocks arranged in tiers, a kitchen, dining facility, guards' quarters, and the warden's house, all connected by an underground steam distribution system.
The prison opened in 1872 as one of the first federal facilities in the western territories and held inmates until 1901. After closure, it served other purposes for decades before becoming preserved as a historic site.
The prison reflects how ideas about punishment and confinement changed during the territorial period. Visitors can observe the physical design choices made to manage and oversee incarcerated people.
Guided and self-guided tours are available through the buildings and grounds, with staff to answer questions. Wear comfortable shoes since you will walk between structures and explore the spaces on foot.
The outlaw Butch Cassidy spent years behind these walls and allegedly used his time to plan future schemes. In its early decades, a surprisingly high number of inmates managed to escape, revealing how difficult security was to maintain without modern techniques.
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