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This was my first time ever visiting a penitentiary and it was one heck of an experience! As tranquil, peaceful and even beautiful as it is, you can't help but feel eary and even emotional as you walk through the various cell blocks. It was built in the late 1800's and was operation through the 1970's! How wild is that?! I was even able to go inside of several solitary confinement rooms and have the door closed behind me. And the only light was a hole in the ceiling. According to the audio guide and plackards on the wall, some inmates were thrown in there for months at a time, some for even up to a year. The worst part was, they weren't even told beforehand how much time it would be. Even just for a few seconds, if felt pretty surreal hearing the door close. We spent several hours walking through the various cell block and yards, and probably an hour at least walking through the armory collection. The collection was quite vast and spanned by WW1 and WW2. All in all, for only $8, it's definitly a must-do when visiting Boise for the first time.
I went to Boise with friends, and pretty much did what the group wanted to do, because I had no clue what to do on my own. I had no expectations, well I wasn't really expecting much. I have to say I really enjoyed touring around here! I'm sure it's a lot more beautiful then when it was in operation. I loved reading the stories of the inmates, though a lot were sad stories. I spent a lot more time here than I was expecting to!
This was one of the recommendations to see in Boise when I looked at things to do here. It has a rich history and is worth a visit. One could finish this in less than 2 hours. Ticket was $8. The lady at the register was very nice. Wearing a shirt with Dennis the Cat, she told me the story of Dennis and went over what to see in each part of the old penitentiary. Some areas like the Dining Hall are in ruins, damaged by fire. Exhibits about those who were incarcerated here are found in the Trusty Dorm and Barber Shop. JC Earl Weapons Exhibit showcase a collection of weapons and some other war memorabilia, not related to prison history (this is airconditioned). In the Maximum Security/5 House, you'll see the gallows/death penalty chamber and can learn more about the history of executions, stories of those hanged, and 11th hour reprieves. You'll end at the same place where you entered and can find some souvenirs at their gift shop: shirts, hoodies, mugs, books, etc. Do not forget to visit the women's ward which is separate from the rest of the structures. The staff say there are guided tours; it was 1.5 hours before closing when I got there and there was not any going on at that time. An option is the audio tour that you can do while doing your self-guided tour. It's good to see but do not expect something like the Alcatraz.
The old penitentiary was built in 1870 is one of 4 prisons open to the public today. During its 101 years of operation, the site saw escapes, scandals and the effects of Boise's transition from the "wild west" to a mid-20th century capital city. Tickets were $8 and guided tours are available.. We visited the cell blocks, barber shop, gallows, remains of the chapel, hospital, dining hall& many exhibits. There were more than 500 escape attempts, 90 were successful. There were 129 recorded deaths here. Harry Orchard, who assassinated Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg in 1905, and Lyda Southard, who was known as Idaho's Lady Bluebeard were famous inmates here.
When planning our weekend getaway to Boise, we noticed the Old Idaho Penitentiary was rated on some websites as the top point of interest in town! We wondered how an old prison could garner such impressive ratings, but with such glowing reviews we put it on our list anyway. And we are so glad that we did! The grounds of the old penitentiary are well maintained, clearly labeled, and well presented. The self-guided tour is incredibly poignant, filled with history, terror, sadness, and awe. From the burned out remains of a riot to the gallows of execution, the experience will be etched into your memory. Don't miss this opportunity.
Not too many pictures but that's because I actually wanted to soak it in. This place has soo much history and it was incredible. Very well kept, great history and it was a must see in Boise.
This was on a lot of people's to do lists when visiting Boise, so I made sure to check it out. The counter person was very lovely and informative. The tickets were $8 per person and included an audio tour guide. I haven't been to a penitentiary in YEARS. I definitely took at least an hour here or more just reading through old history. Would definitely recommend visiting when in town!
We absolutely loved this tour! We opted for the guided tour & man was it worth it! Lisa was very dope! She had a fun personality, and was very informative. We enjoyed having access to so much of the prison, including being able to walk into the cells. Thank you Lisa for your patience as we were able to take our time as we were in a small group.
I didn't get to stay long and I did wish I had taken my headphones. Listening to the YouTube video audio out loud felt rude but I wanted to listen to what I was seeing. Def a good 1-2 hour outing for a nice day. The history is told well, it felt mostly fair and not whitewashed. I've been to other historical places recently that tell a fake version of history and this wasn't that for the most part. It's also told in a way that youth can follow as well.
Interesting place, if you like this kind of history stuff, which I do. They offer occasional tours, plus there's an hour-long audio-tour you can listen to if you want while you are walking thru the place. It's probably not for everyone, but I enjoyed it.
It was a great place to visit. I had a guided tour and learned unique details about inmates and staff. I also learned about the buildings, who built the buildings and saw the difference between the holding cells throughout the years. It was worth the visit.
What a great experience while visiting Idaho. Our family took us here when we visited and I had just been to San Francisco the weekend previously and saw Alcatraz so I definitely value this experience. You were able to go in and tour on your own or have someone guide you along the way we chose to do a self guided tour. You were able to go inside and see all the jail sales and solitary confinement. They have a men's quarter and a women's quarter. I also very much enjoyed going to the museum of all of the different types of guns. There is plenty of places to break and sit on a bench if you feel overwhelmed and you're able to go inside of the jail cells. Definitely a fun educational thing to do. They also offer discounts for elderly AAA and EBT. I love a little piece of history inside of a big city read more
If you have a few hours while visiting Boise, the Old Penitentiary is worth your consideration. It's quite interesting to see the cells and tidbits of inmate history. There was one inmate who successfully escaped by building a ladder to climb the wall. She escaped for the express purpose of visiting her mom, getting a good meal and then just waited patiently for police to bring her back to jail. Don't skip the bonus weapons/gun museum housed in the corner building. They have an impressive collection of prior war guns and swords. Only $9 admission fee. read more
This was my first time ever visiting a penitentiary and it was one heck of an experience! As tranquil, peaceful and even beautiful as it is, you can't help but feel eary and even emotional as you walk through the various cell blocks. It was built in the late 1800's and was operation through the 1970's! How wild is that?! I was even able to go inside of several solitary confinement rooms and have the door closed behind me. And the only light was a hole in the ceiling. According to the audio guide and plackards on the wall, some inmates were thrown in there for months at a time, some for even up to a year. The worst part was, they weren't even told beforehand how much time it would be. Even just for a few seconds, if felt pretty surreal hearing the door close. We spent several hours walking through the various cell block and yards, and probably an hour at least walking through the armory collection. The collection was quite vast and spanned by WW1 and WW2. All in all, for only $8, it's definitly a must-do when visiting Boise for the first time. read more
I went to Boise with friends, and pretty much did what the group wanted to do, because I had no clue what to do on my own. I had no expectations, well I wasn't really expecting much. I have to say I really enjoyed touring around here! I'm sure it's a lot more beautiful then when it was in operation. I loved reading the stories of the inmates, though a lot were sad stories. I spent a lot more time here than I was expecting to! read more
This was one of the recommendations to see in Boise when I looked at things to do here. It has a rich history and is worth a visit. One could finish this in less than 2 hours. Ticket was $8. The lady at the register was very nice. Wearing a shirt with Dennis the Cat, she told me the story of Dennis and went over what to see in each part of the old penitentiary. Some areas like the Dining Hall are in ruins, damaged by fire. Exhibits about those who were incarcerated here are found in the Trusty Dorm and Barber Shop. JC Earl Weapons Exhibit showcase a collection of weapons and some other war memorabilia, not related to prison history (this is airconditioned). In the Maximum Security/5 House, you'll see the gallows/death penalty chamber and can learn more about the history of executions, stories of those hanged, and 11th hour reprieves. You'll end at the same place where you entered and can find some souvenirs at their gift shop: shirts, hoodies, mugs, books, etc. Do not forget to visit the women's ward which is separate from the rest of the structures. The staff say there are guided tours; it was 1.5 hours before closing when I got there and there was not any going on at that time. An option is the audio tour that you can do while doing your self-guided tour. It's good to see but do not expect something like the Alcatraz. read more
The old penitentiary was built in 1870 is one of 4 prisons open to the public today. During its 101 years of operation, the site saw escapes, scandals and the effects of Boise's transition from the "wild west" to a mid-20th century capital city. Tickets were $8 and guided tours are available.. We visited the cell blocks, barber shop, gallows, remains of the chapel, hospital, dining hall& many exhibits. There were more than 500 escape attempts, 90 were successful. There were 129 recorded deaths here. Harry Orchard, who assassinated Idaho Governor Frank Steunenberg in 1905, and Lyda Southard, who was known as Idaho's Lady Bluebeard were famous inmates here. read more
1 year ago
When planning our weekend getaway to Boise, we noticed the Old Idaho Penitentiary was rated on some websites as the top point of interest in town! We wondered how an old prison could garner such impressive ratings, but with such glowing reviews we put it on our list anyway. And we are so glad that we did! The grounds of the old penitentiary are well maintained, clearly labeled, and well presented. The self-guided tour is incredibly poignant, filled with history, terror, sadness, and awe. From the burned out remains of a riot to the gallows of execution, the experience will be etched into your memory. Don't miss this opportunity. read more
1 month ago
2 months ago
Had time to kill , cost was very reasonable . We got there at 11.00 and it was very quiet. There is a beautiful garden outside the yard . By 1.00 it got much busier . There were a lot of pictures and stories posted . You spend two hours read more
1 year ago
This was on a lot of people's to do lists when visiting Boise, so I made sure to check it out. The counter person was very lovely and informative. The tickets were $8 per person and included an audio tour guide. I haven't been to a penitentiary in YEARS. I definitely took at least an hour here or more just reading through old history. Would definitely recommend visiting when in town! read more
7 months ago
We absolutely loved this tour! We opted for the guided tour & man was it worth it! Lisa was very dope! She had a fun personality, and was very informative. We enjoyed having access to so much of the prison, including being able to walk into the cells. Thank you Lisa for your patience as we were able to take our time as we were in a small group. read more
I didn't get to stay long and I did wish I had taken my headphones. Listening to the YouTube video audio out loud felt rude but I wanted to listen to what I was seeing. Def a good 1-2 hour outing for a nice day. The history is told well, it felt mostly fair and not whitewashed. I've been to other historical places recently that tell a fake version of history and this wasn't that for the most part. It's also told in a way that youth can follow as well. read more
2 months ago
4 months ago
Interesting place, if you like this kind of history stuff, which I do. They offer occasional tours, plus there's an hour-long audio-tour you can listen to if you want while you are walking thru the place. It's probably not for everyone, but I enjoyed it. read more
It was a great place to visit. I had a guided tour and learned unique details about inmates and staff. I also learned about the buildings, who built the buildings and saw the difference between the holding cells throughout the years. It was worth the visit. read more
2 years ago
This was an amazing, historical dive from the moment we entered the building! Although we'd missed the start of the tour, an employee at the front desk filled us in on a most interesting and infamous, woman inmate. That was the beginning of our adventure! Everything was great, including the gift shop. Our excursion went above & beyond my expectations! I definitely want to go again during the summer months. read more
4 months ago
1 year ago
9 months ago
3 years ago
Very nicely preserved historic location. Worth taking a look. We spent about 2 hours walking and exploring. They do offer tours so call ahead to get times on those. They do have bathrooms and water fill up stations. Take comfortable clothing and shoes for walking. read more
This place is hands down worth the $8 entry fee. I extremely enjoyed our self guided tour around the prison reading up on the fascinating details of the past men, women and children inmates. Walking around the prison and cell blocks takes you back in time on what it would be like to be an inmate back in those times. read more
Being somewhat of a prison nerd, this was my second tour at the Old Idaho Penitentiary. This tour was more important than the usual tours offered by the Historical Society, because it offered a glimpse of the prison's cemetery, which is only open to public tours for one week each year. Our guide Samuel entertained us as he acted out yard stabbings, shared stories about the prison's most infamous convicts, and allowed us to enter the gallows room. He led us from the basketball court, through a cell block, past the foundation of the infirmary, and outside Two Gate. We walked about a quarter mile from the penitentiary's 17-foot stone walls to a small, wire-fenced cemetery. Of the 129 recorded deaths over its 101-year history, at least 55 people were buried here, including six of the ten people executed. You may wonder how a prison ends up with a cemetery - some families cannot afford to claim their loved one's body, and other families turn their backs in death as they may have in life. In 2019, the Boise State Geophysics Club used ground-penetrating radar, magnetometers, and GPS to help locate the graves. More than half of the cemetery has Unknown markers; two markers have been installed by the US Army for veterans. One heart-shaped marker was made by fellow convicts for another who was so beloved. It snowed off and on as we made our way around the prison. Unfortunately, we had to leave the tour early to make our flight home and just missed hearing the tale of Dennis the Cat. Fortunately, his legacy will be there for next time. read more
1 year ago
Amazing experience! Great gardens and lots of history to read and learn about. Staff are very friendly and welcoming. read more
If you look up the best things to do in Boise the Old Idaho Penitentiary will pop up on most lists, sometimes at the very top of the list. How often do you get to see an old defunct prison? The admission prices are as followed (as of August 2021): - $6 (adults 13+) - $4 (seniors 60+) - $3 (children 6-12 years) - free (members) This site housed prisoners and operated from 1872 until riots over living occasions caused the eventual shutdown in 1973. When you enter the courtyard you will feel like you've been transported back 40-50 years. The place is desolate, quiet, and just gray and tan all over. You know the saying "feels like a prison"? Now I know how that actually feels and looks like. As you walk around you'll come across different buildings that served different purposes when the prison was up and running including the dining hall, the commissary, the hospital, the barber, the laundry room, and of course the jail cells. There was only originally one building that housed prisoners but as the first building would get overcrowded with inmates they would build the next one and then repeat a couple more times. There ended up being a total of four buildings containing jail cells. And as you would expect, the prisoners were the ones who built these new buildings saving tons of money on labor costs. One of the more fascinating rooms in the entire prison was the one called the "trusty dorm" which contained lots of information on inmates stories, regional/global representation of people from all over the country and the world who spent time at the prison, and the crimes that they committed. Near this building is the rose garden, which while it sounds nice it was the location of several executions by hanging or firing squad. During the day there will be presentations in the back of the prison talking about the history and some of the interesting points that may not show up during the self-guided tours. It was only 30 minutes and I highly recommend listening in to these presentations. One thing that stood out to me was that people who ended up in "the dungeon" (aka solitary confinement) did not have toilets in their cells but instead there was just a hole in the ground with the entire prison's sewer system passing through. The presentation also highlighted some infamous inmates, such as Lyda Southard and Ray Snowden. Southard went on a murdering spree killing four of her husbands and multiple other family members for the insurance money. Snowden, known as Idaho's Jack the Ripper, murdered a woman leaving a bar and stabbed her about 30 times and was hanged in one of the prison buildings (5 house to be exact). There's so much more information and stories that I read about during my tour here and although I could type them all out I HIGHLY recommend you to just take the time and explore this place yourself. For the admission price the fascination levels are off the charts. You will find tons of things that range from interesting, shocking, to disgusting that speak to all your senses. From ghost stories to attempted escapes to even the weapons exhibit there's just so much to see! read more
In 1872, the Old Idaho Penitentiary opened. This prison eventually closed in December 1973 after 2 very destructive prison riots. The prison was built from mostly sandstone from a nearby quarry, by use of prisoner labor. This prison first started as a single cell but eventually grew to several buildings. There were several riots that occurs during the time the prison was operating, mostly due to unfair living conditions for the prisoners and lack of rights for them. During the time of operation, there have been numerous of famous inmates that were housed here. Raymond Allen Snowden was the last one to be executed by hanging in the 1950s. He killed a women, stabbing her 29 times (he was rather drunk when this happened). When it was time for his hanging, the drop broke and failed to break his neck so he suffered more than 15 minutes until he died. In addition to having male prisoners, there was also a women's ward for female inmates, which was from 1906- 1968. Most of the women who were here were convicted of petty crimes (forgery, insufficient funds, etc). But there were women who were also convicted for abortions, prostitution, adultery and even arson. Lyda Southard was convicted here and was known to be one of the very first female serial killers. It was believed that she had killed her husbands and family members in order to collect life insurance. She poised them by placing arsenic in a homemade apple pie (I guess pie can be the enemy). My husband and I came here on a Sunday afternoon and ended up spending about 3 hours here, reading everything and taking our time to visit all the different buildings and cells. In addition to learning about the inmates, you also get to learn about the different wardens that worked here and also some of the pets that lived here. There is actually a grave marker for Dennis the Cat that you can visit. It is actually kind of funny that coincidentally on the day of our visit, it was the anniversary of Dennis the Cat's passing, in which there was a party for him with cake and a presentation. Between 1952 and 1968, this cat lived at the penitentiary (he was smuggled in by an inmate). Many of the inmates really loved him and buried him near the main yard when he passed away. There is plenty to see and lots to read and learn. Amazingly admission is only $6 (for adults and $3 for children), which is very cheap. There is also free parking but parts of the parking lot can be limited since it shares the same parking as Table Rock. Definitely worth a visit if you are visiting Boise or if you live in Boise but have never been. read more
I was visiting the area and decided to stop by. First it's easy to get to. The cost is very affordable it was under $15 for two adults and a child under 5. You can either take a guided tour or you can just walk around yourself. This place is very cool and interesting. It was very educational. I love how accessible everything was and how you can get an idea of how conditions really were. If you visit Boise this is a must stop. Definitely worth the visit. read more
2 years ago
We did the 12:30 tour with Abby today and it was amazing! The grounds are absolutely stunning and packed full of history! Abby was phenomenal and her excitement about the history flowed out into the tour she gave us, 10/10 recommend! read more
We decided to stay an extra day in Boise, so we could do some ghost hunting at the penitentiary. We heard that it was fun to explore and that in "little Siberia" you were likely to encounter paranormal activity. So with our KII meter in tow, masks, and our excitement we began to explore! In fact, we did get some readings and overall the experience was fun to do as a family. (Nothing overly scary folks but you can sense the energy change when you enter the solitary confinement portion of the prison. read more
2 years ago
My granddaughter and I attended an event at the gem and mining museum and afterwards we decided to take a guided tour of the Old Idaho Penitentiary. We were very fortunate to have Leslie as our guide. She is very knowledgeable and answered all the questions posed to her. This is a very interesting site rich in history and the information is plentiful. Wear comfortable clothes and comfortable shoes as it is a walking tour. The weather was warm so sunscreen and a hat is recommended. The grounds have some very beautiful flowers. The weapons museum is phenomenal with many types of historical pieces. I plan on bringing others back as it was such an interesting day. read more
We went to the botanical gardens and they had a deal where you could get admission to both so we went for it! This was really interesting. I liked reading about the inmates and being able to view this piece of history. My husband was interested in the museum of weapons, we were blown away by how crazy some of them looked! Glad we were able to check this place out. read more
Plan to spend about an hour here. Self guided tour and some aspects of it can be kinda creepy. Very informative and educational. Musuem/tour is indoor/outdoor and most buildings are not heated nor air conditioned. Beautiful scenery surrounds you as well. read more
2 years ago
I believe our guide was Leslie. She was amazing. Very knowledgeable and was able to answer a wide variety of questions. I was also impressed with the way she modified information so that the younger members on the tour were comfortable yet the aged members were able to comprehend. I really appreciated that she took extra time with those who chose to learn more about Dennis. Such a heart warming story amidst all of the sorrow the old penitentiary holds. read more
4 years ago
This was so much fun! They have self guided or tour guides. It was a great price. There are multiple buildings and signs where you can learn all about the old prison. You learn about riots, solitary, death row, and even specific inmates that were there and what crimes they committed. They have a section where they have bios of people attached to the cell they were placed in. Some areas gave me the chills and were spooky. I have no complaints though bang for buck is amazing here. I highly recommend visiting while in Boise, we spent roughly 2.5 hours and we could have stayed longer. read more
4 years ago
We had to practically drag our teens to join us on the self tour, since the thought of visiting a historical site on a stifling hot afternoon didn't sound appealing - but once we got started, the combination of creepiness and interesting info was enough to keep us there for more than an hour, with the kids leading the way and taking time to actually read all the placards. The air conditioning definitely helped. read more
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