The name says Prison Museum, but you are really visiting an extensive collection of automobiles (and before they were automated), a prison used until 1961, a toy museum and art. Spread over four buildings (well, the prison is a lot of buildings) on both sides of the street. So it's more than an old prison. To begin with, the prison grounds are under going some repair work. Pathways are being repaired, stair ways closed off. There is a lot of walking outdoors to see the areas open to the public so be sure you are dressed for the weather. Cells in the new prison and women's prison are open including the 'hole' and other cells used for punishment. The guide book tells you about those. Dining room, job placement office, social services, visitor room, 'the tunnel', shower room and clinic are some of the sites you can see or enter. Signs around the property give information. The auto collection goes on and on. From horse drawn on thru the years it's quite the collection. Each vehicle has a bit of info. A small display shows the Yellowstone trail which states that was the first trans-continent roadway from Boston to Seattle. Never heard of that and now I want to know more. The museum has an annual fund raiser to support museum upkeep. Buying raffle tickets helps keep the doors open. This years raffle is a 1965 Mustang GT! Drawing is in December and tickets are a tenner each. Go get ya some. We arrived after lunch and did not have time to view the other two museum locations across the road. We did however have time to get some ice cream from the shop near the entrance before getting back on the road. Also, there is a little free library at the entrance where you can take one or leave one. We parked street side. Restrooms are off the gift shop. Deerlodge is a cute little town with a National Park on the other end that is well worth a visit as well. A very family friendly stop. read more

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Such a unique experience to see a big piece of Montana history. This prison was the first in the state and was the state prison through the late 1970's. You can definitely feel the impact from those who served sentences here. read more

Old Montana Prison Complex - Museums Near Me - Deer Lodge, Montana

The ghost tour was incredible! The team that puts this on is the best of the best. They are fun, energetic, they teach you lots of cool facts, and they are epic story tellers. I can't wait to come back next summer and do it again. One of the best experiences I have ever had. They take you around each area and give you the history, Teach you about all of the equipment, then everyone is off on their own to explore. Group size was about 20 but the place is so huge you just pass by a small group walking to and from the other areas. It's not super crowded and it does feel like you are truly off on your own. read more

It's just an awesome place to go through and see history! It has so many things in it so many things to see And the stories of what went on during those times is very interesting! It's definitely something you need to visit! read more

I don't know how you can give this any less than five stars. You'd need at least a full day, maybe two, to check out everything included in one admission. We were driving through Deer Lodge to get gas and noticed the old prison. We stopped in and found out that there are 3-4 other museums on both sides of the street that are part of the same ticket. Just the prison itself takes at least 1-2 hours, but then you have hundreds of very nice cars in an adjacent building, full-size locomotives in the parking lot, a toy museum across the street, and a frontier museum we didn't even have time to step into. This museum complex, plus the Grant-Kohrs Ranch National Historic Site at the other end of town, plus all the old buildings in the middle of town, plus good places to eat (like K&M Burgers), makes Deer Lodge a destination in itself. Much more than an interstate gas stop. read more

There are no fewer than five separate museums, technically, and you get into all of them with one admission--the old prison, the auto museum (listed separately on Yelp), the toy museum, the old west/Yellowstone photography, and to be honest, one museum I can't remember right now. The old prison is the biggest part of this complex, and probably what most people are going to visit. We rolled off of the freeway just wanting to rest our legs and stumbled into this whole thing in Deer Lodge, but it's not like you can miss it. Massive walls and towers, signs, and lots of people parked on the side of the road. We paid our entrance and went through the prison first. Lots of stories, lots of information, and lots of different areas are on the self-guided tour, from the administrative offices, to the yard, to the cell block, the women's prison, the hole, the chapel, and more. It's not been restored, really, except for staging mannequins that scare the bajeeebies out of you when you come around a corner. I kinda like the peeling paint and the decrepit nature of the exposed wires and cracking cement; it helps you remember that this was not built as a museum, but as a prison. On the other hand, it's been out of use since the late '70s and at some point, nature is going to reclaim things and they're going to need massive funding or a demolition crew. There's info everywhere, but one of the stranger things was that none of the info is really contextualized. I understand that feelings can be fresh and maybe some of the families of old officers may still be around, but there are stories about guards being killed and prisoners rioting, and you get to actually see how awful the solitary confinement areas are, but there's not a real contextualization of history, or how we got there, or what we've done since those times. It was clearly a decision, but maybe some discussion about what's happened in criminal justice and reform since those times would help put this into historical perspective. We toured the prison for a long while and didn't leave enough time for the auto museum or other spots, but still managed to get into 3/5 and it was definitely worth the admission. There's a small park/picnic area (labeled as such) across the street and that's where we ate lunch before getting back on the road. A fun stop and the epitome of a big road trip surprise. read more

Old Montana Prison Complex - Cells - Museums Near Me - Deer Lodge, Montana

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While staying nearby we discovered the Old Prison Museum of Montana, which was first established in 1871. Interesting tour that takes you through the colorful history and buildings that were used until 1979. As we walked through some of the buildings you could image how difficult it must have been locked up in these very small cold cells. The newer cell blocks were larger than the much smaller darker, damper ones. The tour took us through the dark tunnels and the pick black cell that prisoner were placed in for misbehaving. I recommend taking the time to take in this look back in history of the Montana prison system then walk next door and visit the Car Museum. read more

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The experience here!!!! If you're at all sensitive and intrigued by the paranormal and cars I suggest making a trip to this place. read more

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Deer Lodge, Montana. Gigantic, organized, clean, informative old school prison (think Alcatraz) turned museum for us to witness the craziness that our ancestors lived. Access/Roads: A Paved. Parking: A Unless the town has stuff going on then parking will be an F. Distance: C Helena, Montana - 55 miles Boise, Idaho - 450 miles Salt Lake City, Utah - 500 miles. Los Angeles, California - 1,200 miles. Costs: A Paying $10 gets you into five museums. Nearby Attractions: Frontier Museum. Montana Auto Museum. Powell County Museum. Montana Police Memorial Territorial Antiques Doll/Toy Museum Grant Kohrs Historic Ranch and Cottonwood Mini-City. Travel safely. Picture gallery: https://www.facebook.com/SiRTurbo/media_set?set=a.10157282567652324&type=3&uploaded=57 IG @cigarcpa www.cleeshyun.com read more

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Saw a billboard and had to stop as I work with inmates back at home. We first went to the inmate goods store. Some of the stuff was beautifully crafted! The cashier was a trustee and we spoke a bit about the prison stats. Ended up purchasing a key chain made by an inmate. 75% of the sale goes to the prison and 25% to the inmate crafter. We then went over to the prison and auto museum entrance. I did the self guided walking tour of the prison and mom chose to do the car collection. The prison grounds were very interesting! You could walk into just about any building and there were information signs about the buildings. Some areas just felt too heavy and I could t walk in alone (such as little Siberia). In the cell block, I caught an orb flying through. Thought it was just some rain on my lense so I wiped it and snapped another picture and it was there again and moving. Creepy! read more

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Great stop very interesting, lots of other museums included in your ticket price as well. With the stop read more

Old Montana Prison Complex - Deer lodge montana prison - Museums Near Me - Deer Lodge, Montana

The attendant lock us in the prison and left for the day.!!! It was 5:12 pm and they close at 6pm. We were the only two touring the grounds, so they had to know we were in there. We completed our self guided tour and when returning to the exit, we found the gate was pad locked and attendants had left. We yelled for help but no one came. We called their office and went to voicemail. Reckless on there behalf. We had to find our own way out and I'll leave it at that. read more

I've seen a lot of prisons and auto museums but it's still interesting to tour different ones. I'm always amazed at the stonework looks like it will last forever it's hard to image what it was like for the prisoners mostly in the winter. It was worth stopping and touring both if you forget your mask they sell them for a dollar donation read more

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A ton of history! Very enjoyable to see all the old cars. And the old prison tour was very educational

What an amazing place to visit for the harder side of Montana history. Some of the walls and building have beautiful stone work - completed by inmates. Great walking tour. Some areas are in grave disrepair- it would be wonderful to see it maintained a bit better. It is also amazing that the prison was right on Main Street. read more

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We had a great visit and I'll admit I was a bit creeped out. Kids, just stay out of prison, m'kay? We first toured the car museum, which is part of the ticket price. Being from Detroit and having visited the Henry Ford Museum many times, I was skeptical. I'm happy to say that I saw a LOT of cars that I've never seen before (or had forgotten about, which is the same thing for me). The museum is very tidy and every car has a placard to explain the year, make, model and the name of the car's owner. It was very interesting and educational. I braced myself for the self-guided prison tour but nothing really prepares you for what's ahead. The day was cool and damp, which prolly didn't help to boost the mood. As with the car museum, the buildings were all well-labeled with the history and significant facts about the facility. It was very informative if a bit disturbing. The gift shop was fun to visit and shop. The gal working at the cashier's spot was very friendly and helpful. Our tickets are good for another visit within the year. Since it's a complex of museums, I think I'd like to see something else next time *just* to be different. In spite of the gloom, I felt that I got in a good walk and a tremendous amount of history. read more

Looked intriguing from the outside and even better on the inside. It was authentic and such an interesting inside view of an old prison. You are given access to so much of the prison. It is a self-guided tour. It's like an onion you peeling. So many layers. To find out you have access to more museums than just the prison wa such a bonus! The car museum was a hidden gem. So thankful we stopped our 7 and 10 y/o boys loved it too! read more

It is a societal tale. Although not as sophisticated or as timed as Eastern State and Alcatraz, it retains the haunting standard of Territorial incarceration....ironically used well into the height of imprisonment and over population. More cheerful museums ten the dark story into one of developmental. read more

This museum is fabulous! It's all self guided which is fine because the guide book given to you is extremely clear and loaded with information. The ambiance is a little creepy because all you can do is imagine what it was like to be a prisoner. The tour paints a very vivid picture of what prison life is like. Still, I enjoyed how open and accessible all areas of the prison were, I wasn't expecting to get so up close to things like cells, etc. You could easily spend a whole day here between the prison and auto museums. The price of admission is well worth it. I highly recommend both! read more

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Must See! This is definitely a stop on your road trip. The admission price includes the self-guided prison tour, the automobile museum with over a hundred and sixty cars, and the Museum's across the street. read more

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Came here for the haunted house. Long wait outside in the cold. I didn't really find it scary. It was pretty dark inside so hard to see where you were walking. It was mainly a person with a chainsaw chasing you at every other corner I felt. You go through this in like 5mins. Was not worth paying for and waiting in line for over an hour. Still don't understand why the line took so long to let me in. read more

Not bad even for this East Coast pizza snob. We were the only customers in the place and it was lunch time. Guess this small town calms down after summer vacation is over. Didn't feel we were being fed prison chow. read more

Admittedly, prisons aren't high on the list of any normal person's destinations, touring or otherwise. As a matter of fact, the nearest to a prison any average person wants to get, is perhaps watching "The Shawshank Redemption." But even so, a visit to the Montana Territorial Prison is worth the time and admission price. This imposing, gothic structure located in downtown Deer Lodge is a must for anyone interested in Montana history. This was the first prison in Montana, dating back to the days when Montana was a just a territory and vigilantism ruled the roost. Commissioned in 1870, the territorial prison was an official, civilized answer to the lawlessness that prevailed in mineral-rich areas such as Butte, Bannock, Helena , and Virginia City (the previous solution was to hang the individual, if they were not lucky enough to high-tail it out of the area). Over the next century the Montana Territorial Prison was a model prison, and by that, I mean it was a model for overcrowding, violence, corruption, and survival of extreme conditions. Riots, murders, slave-labor; it all took place within the cold, stone walls of Montana's ultimate form of justice and correction, and became a final stop for many. Now a state and national historical site, the only occupants are ghosts of the past, and an eerie silence that slightly hints at how much of a bad-mojo factory this place really was. The self-guided tour gives individuals the opportunity to tour and explore the complex at their own pace, while the guided tour will offer the advantage of inside stories and the chance to ask questions. If you can, I recommend doing the guided tour first, then come back and do the self-guided tour a day or two later, which has the effect of really sinking home the knowledge that this was the world of men condemned to spend years or decades in an area just slightly larger than a few square city blocks, or in some cases far smaller. To write of the actual history that happened here would take up many pages more than Yelp allows. Instead, be assured that this is no mere tourist trap. Both this and the adjacent car museum are well worth the price of admission. If you are traveling in the area, consider setting aside a few hours and stopping in. You will not regret it. read more

Spooky old prison + ability to go inside cells - $9 = FANTASTIC! And if that isn't scary enough for you, your admission fee for this place also covers your admission to a doll museum. Oh, check out the men's bathrooms in the giftshop. They have the highest urinals that I've ever seen. They were good for me, but at 6'2", I had to believe that some people might just need to use the stall instead. read more

What a great afternoon-- we got off the freeway just looking to walk around a bit, and decided to check out the museums. A tour had just left when we got there but there was a self guided booklet they loan you. It was interesting but we caught up to the tour within 10 minutes and the guide was amazing! Marquis Archuleta is also an actor at the local theatre, and his delivery was fabulous- wish we could have stayed for a "ghost tour" - which they do at night with a bit more theatrics. About 1/3 of the tour was outside, which was nice except it did rain pretty hard for a few minutes-- it actually added to the ambiance, as we dripped inside the door of the maximum security area! The highlight for us was the prison, but the car museum was interesting and quite extensive. Ice cream was welcome and you get a discount with your ticket receipt. read more

I'm from Seattle, WA. We made a special trip down to Montana to visit the museum and do the ghost tour. Just had so much fun. What amazing, nice people that work there too. All so helpful and just incredible. I was very impressed with the whole place. The car museum is UNBELIEVABLE! I have never seen so many cars from the beginning of cars in one place. You have to see it to believe it. If you know someone that is into cars, they will spend hours and hours there. The ghost tour was so much fun. Lem was our guide. Such a sweet, amazing guy, long white beard and carries an old lantern, really good story teller. It was worth the 12 hour drive for that fun adventure, I recommend it to everyone. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me and I would love to tell you more. read more

We visited the prison a couple of years ago on our way to Mt. Rushmore. We actually got in before it was officially opened by a very nice lady who worked there. We were the only people touring the prison at that time. Spooky and eerie are good words to describe the self guided tour. Going into the large men's prison was incredible seeing the actual cells and reading about the men who had been incarcerated there. However, I very funny thing happened to me. On the other side of the main prison wall was the women's prison. A much smaller one-floored building. Just as I'm at the front door I sneezed and I heard a bless you. I said thank you and it dawned on me to whom could I possibly be speaking too!! It's the creepy truth. I still walked through out the prison to make sure there was no one there. Nope. Whatever, it was fun. read more

I absolutely loved this museum; especially when you get all 7 other museums, the gift shop, and a discount off the ice cream shop. For $15, you really can't beat any of this. Expect at least a full day's event. I unfortunately only got to the car museum and the prison museum, ok, so I refused to go to the doll museum. Isn't that where all the hauntings happen? I did the self guided tour and read it should take up to 60 minutes to walk through. Like another Yelper stated, I walked out 2.5 hours later. Everything about the prison was fascinating. The car museum was awesome surprisingly as well. I'm not a huge car fan, but I loved seeing these old cars and how the car industry has changed over the decades. Recommended? Absolutely. But like I mentioned above, make sure you make a day out of this. read more

Loved this museum. Highly recommend it. It can be creepy but totally worth it! You learn so much about the history of the prison, prisoners, and guards. I would get goosebumps just reading and learning on how prisoners would get treated. read more

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Very, very cool stuff. We had a real good time spending the day here. Saw pretty much everything. Inly complain I can even think of (and it's not the museum's fault) is that when we took a break from seeing all the cool museum stuff, and went to 4Bs for lunch it was as n awful experience. LOL. read more

Old Montana Prison Complex - Merc coupe. Sick lead sled! - Museums Near Me - Deer Lodge, Montana

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Super great & informative walking tour. Even kept our 7yo granddaughter entertained. 20% off for Leo's and AAA members. Super nice gift shop as well. read more

really cool place, cant wait to take my 13 year old son . i took lots of great photos

I love this museum. There are a bunch of different ones to see along with the old prison for the price of only $9.00. I've been there 2 times just this past summer. Great place to see and learn about our history. read more

Old Montana Prison Complex - Old Prison Museum in Deer Lodge, Montana - Museums Near Me - Deer Lodge, Montana

We took our family to tour this museum because it was something different and to expose our kids to what prison is (or was) like. By the end of the self-guided tour our kids said, "We don't ever want to come back here again!" MISSION ACCOMPLISHED!! There is also a wonderful car museum next door with many levels of cars and 4 other museums across the street. Well worth a visit! Thank you. read more

We visited the Prison Museum on a dreary Friday morning, with only a few others wandering the grounds. The self-guided walking tour is well laid out and easy to follow. There are plenty of signs with more information, and you can easily spend a couple of hours here. The buildings seem to have mostly been abandoned and left as is following the closure of the prison in the 70s. There is a definite creepy vibe to the place, particularly with the art exhibits laid out throughout the area. While the complex isn't as well-maintained as some other old prisons, it's a great place to visit, and I'd highly recommend it. There is an attached car museum, included in the tour price, and also well worth a walk-through. There are several areas that would be inaccessible to those in a wheelchair, or those needing some help walking, but you could still see most of the prison. read more

Well worth the visit. Scary to think it was used until 1979. The car museum was also well worth the visit. One ticket got you into multiple museums read more

This is a really great side trip if you like history and checking out old places. I won't ruin it by telling you everything but most of it was left just as it was. Walking around in this old prison makes you appreciate life in the present. The price includes a couple of other museums in the vicinity. You'll want a good couple of hours to check it all out. Loved it. read more

Incredible History. Plan to spend at least 2 hours to get the full effect of the complex.

The admission price covers several of the museums including a car museum with 100+ cars. I really enjoyed the prison museum. It was more expansive than I expected, taking us 1.5 hours to look around. Current admission prices are $15 for adults ($12 with certain discounts) and 9 and under are free. Keep the receipt for one more admission within a year. read more

Fun place. Had to rush because it was so cold when we went. I'd love to check it out when the weather is better. Went to the auto museum and it was awesome. Any car lover would love this one. read more