Idaho’s Old Penitentiary Tour Engages Visitors
By Bobbie Green
The old Idaho Penitentiary is one of four territorial penitentiaries, still in existence, in the United States. Built east of Boise in 1870 and it housed prisoners until 1973. Now, the complex of several sandstone buildings, are open to revealing public tours.
Our tour guide’s father was a guard at the prison– our guide lived on the property as a boy. He had interesting tales to tell.
A prisoners life was very harsh in those days compared to the resort like penitentiaries we send our criminals to now days. There were no workout rooms, computers and air conditioning.
Visitors begin by watching a video recalling prison history and its notorious inmates. The guide then takes you inside the prison gates, steel doors and bars are loudly closed and locked behind you—giving you an edgy feeling—you can only imagine how the prisoners must have felt, we were pretty sure we were going to get out.
The tour takes you from the earliest cells to the last addition in 1954, a very sobering experience. In stark contrast to the bleak buildings and cells, the grounds inside houses a rose garden on the spot where some of the hangings took place. We also saw the inside gallows, along with an explanation of how things were done. Six of the 10 executions took place in the rose garden and the other four in the gallows.
A clever inmate named George Hamilton designed plans for a new prison structure in 1898– it was built and used as the dining hall until the inmates burned it down in 1973. The remains evidences the scope of the riots.
The “Cooler” as it is known was the first solitary confinement building built in 1920’s. Each very small cell held 4-6 men. In 1926 “Siberia” was built housing twelve 3×8 cells holding only one inmate per cell.
A person on the tour with us said his brother was an inmate here. The inmates were allowed to play sports and their teams played against the locals from nearby Treasure Valley. The prison baseball team appropriately named “The Outlaws.”
Women did not have separate quarters until 1905 in a makeshift built by the inmates. In 1920, a more permanent structure was built containing seven two-person cells, a central day room and bathroom facilities. The women did sewing here.
I cannot imagine how there could be any repeat offenders after getting out of this place. Our guide told tales of inmates’ craftiness. He told how ruthless they could be to one another and to the guards—of some more colorful characters who were incarcerated here.
Idaho’s Old Penitentiary is definitely an interesting place to visit. Call ahead for tour times. Doing a walk through without a guide, you will miss the true essence of the facility.
While in Boise, do not miss the opportunity to visit the Basque Block in downtown Boise–If only for a taste of the delicious Basque food. The Basque Block is home to the only unique Basque Cultural Center and Museum in this country, one of two in the world. The Museum and historic Boarding House are worth a visit. Do try the food it is wonderful.
We stayed at the Hampton Inn & Suites-Downtown. Great location, you can walk to nearly everything. Front desk staff is very helpful and the included buffet breakfast is good.
IF YOU GO
Old Idaho Pen. State Historic Site
20-334-2844
www.history.idaho.gov./oldpen.html
Basque Museum & Cultural Center
208-336-4801
Hampton Inn –Downtown
208-331-1900
