House of Slaves, Historical museum in Gorée Island, Senegal.
The House of Slaves contains multiple holding cells, iron shackles, and exhibition rooms across two floors connected by a central wooden staircase.
Built in 1776 as a residence and holding center, this structure processed African individuals through its infamous door before their Atlantic crossing.
The museum presents original artifacts, documents, and personal accounts that detail the experiences of individuals during the Atlantic slave trade period.
Visitors reach the museum via a twenty-minute ferry ride from Dakar, with guided tours available Tuesday through Sunday from 10:00 to 12:30 and 14:30 to 18:00.
The Door of No Return, situated at the building's rear, marks the final departure point where individuals left African soil for forced transport overseas.
Location: Dakar
Inception: 1776
Official opening: 1962
Operator: fa
Part of: Gorée
Opening Hours: Tuesday-Sunday 10:00-12:30,14:30-18:00
Website: http://webworld.unesco.org/goree/fr
GPS coordinates: 14.66778,-17.39722
Latest update: May 26, 2025 21:35
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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