Colorado’s Museum of Prisons: A Unique Look into the Past and Beyond
The Museum of Colorado Prisons, located in Cañon City, offers visitors a unique glimpse into the history of incarceration in the state. Housed in a historical cell house, the museum showcases the “atmosphere and exhibits of days, staff, and inmates gone by.”
The museum shares a stone wall and armed towers with the Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility, which has been in operation since 1871. Since its opening on June 18, 1988, the museum has included exhibits covering more than 140 years of prison history.
A Community-Driven Project
The idea for the museum originated from Fremont County residents. In 1986, the Colorado State Legislature approved the project to transform the former Women’s Prison building into a museum, granting Cañon City a 99-year lease for the cell house.
Exploring Prison Life
The museum depicts prison life through 30 inmate cells, an office space, and a gift shop on the upper level. The lower level includes a dining room, archival storage, a general-purpose room, an original kitchen, isolation cells, a Federal Prison Display, and a laundry room. Each cell illustrates various aspects of prison life for inmates and guards, including working and living conditions, punishments, and more. Notable exhibits cover the Prison Riots of 1929 and 1947, a gas chamber, and infamous inmates like Alfred Packer and Anton Woode.
Special Events and Exhibits
The museum also hosts “Paranormal Investigation Nights,” allowing visitors to engage in ghost hunting. Throughout the year, special exhibits highlight topics such as female wardens, K-9 training programs, and more.
Whether you’re a history enthusiast or intrigued by the paranormal, the Museum of Colorado Prisons offers a fascinating and comprehensive look into the state’s correctional past.
