Butyrka prison, Federal detention center in Tverskoy District, Moscow, Russia.
Butyrka is a federal detention center in the Tverskoy District of Moscow, consisting of several multistory cell blocks. High fortress walls surround the grounds, with watchtowers standing at each of the four corners.
Architect Matvey Kazakov designed the current building in 1879, converting the earlier fortress into a central transit point for prisoners. Over the following decades, authorities adapted the facility repeatedly to meet new demands in the penal system.
A museum on the grounds displays objects and documents covering more than two centuries of Russian detention history. Visitors can trace how conditions for inmates shifted through different eras.
The facility sits near Savelovskaya metro station and is easily recognized from street level by its high walls. The museum section opens to visitors by prior arrangement, while other areas remain closed.
Harry Houdini performed his escape act at Butyrka in 1908, freeing himself from a metal prisoner transport box in 28 minutes. This event remains one of the few recorded public performances inside an active detention facility.
Location: Tverskoy District
Inception: 1771
Architects: Matvey Kazakov
Part of: Комплекс зданий Бутырской тюрьмы
Address: Novoslobodskaya Ulitsa, 45, Moskva, Russia, 127055
Opening Hours: Monday-Friday 09:00-16:00
Phone: +74999787546
Website: http://butyrka-sizo.ru
GPS coordinates: 55.78487,37.59372
Latest update: December 4, 2025 23:00
This collection brings together penal institutions that have marked the history of incarceration worldwide through their architecture, detention conditions, or roles in major historical events. From the Guantanamo Bay naval base in Cuba, established in 2002 for holding individuals suspected of terrorism, to high-security facilities like Red Onion in Wise County, Virginia, these sites document the evolution of penal systems across continents. Among the institutions transformed into memorial sites, Diyarbakır Prison in Turkey stands out for its conversion into a cultural center and museum since 2019. Its 24 dormitories spread over two floors, its cells, and corridors allow visitors to explore this chapter of Turkish penal history. In Argentina, Mendoza Prison, built in the early 20th century, reflects the prison practices of that era and the development of the regional judicial system. Other facilities remain operational and raise questions about prisoners' rights and incarceration conditions. Gldani Prison in Tbilisi caused national protests in 2012 after images exposing systemic abuses were released, leading to major reforms in the Georgian penal system. Ciudad Barrios Prison in El Salvador continues to function as a correctional center in the eastern region of the country. These sites, spread across multiple continents, provide documented insights into penal practices in various political and social contexts. From Rwanda to North Korea, passing through Colombia and the United States, they help understand the evolution of judicial and correctional systems while raising current issues related to detention and rehabilitation.
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