Old Idaho Penitentiary Site
4.8(3.6K)google
4.7(157)yelp
HistoryHistoric BuildingEerie & HauntedEducational
Overview
The Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site was a functional prison from 1872 to 1973 in the western United States, east of Boise, Idaho. The first building, also known as the Territorial Prison, was constructed in the Territory of Idaho in 1870; the territory was seven years old when the prison was built, a full two decades before statehood. From its beginnings as a single cell house, the penitentiary grew to a complex of several distinctive buildings surrounded by a 17-foot-high (5.2 m) sandstone wall.
Practical Info
Every day10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
Suggested Duration2-3 hours
Best TimeSpring (May to June) or autumn (October) yields the best walking weather through the historic site. Book a morning slot around 10:00 AM or look out for their exclusive nighttime flashlight tours in October. Morning sun hits the hand-cut sandstone blocks quarried by past inmates, creating a stark visual contrast between the guard towers and cell blocks.
Getting ThereLocated at the base of the Boise foothills. You can take Valley Regional Transit Bus Route 2 from Downtown Boise, exit at Warm Springs Ave & Strader St, and walk north for 6 minutes. By car, take Warm Springs Ave east, turn left onto Old Penitentiary Rd, and pull into the sprawling free public parking lot situated directly outside the prison gates.
Travel Tips
- Historic cell blocks lack modern HVAC; interiors become stiflingly hot in mid-summer and drop to freezing in winter, requiring protective seasonal clothing.
- Solitary confinement cells and internal corridors feature low overhead clearings and tight clearances; watch your head and avoid enclosed zones if claustrophobic.
- General admission excludes restricted wings; exclusive night tours and deep-dive paranormal investigations require separate advanced online booking with no day-of sales.
Reviews
Positive
- The rugged sandstone prison walls look highly imposing, delivering an authentic, chilling historic gravity with no deception.
- Walking directly into tiny cells, solitary confinement, and the gallows delivers a powerful, immersive experience.
- The audio guides and signage are extremely detailed, sharing captivating real stories of historical prison riots and escapes.
- The admission price is very reasonable, located near downtown Boise with good crowd order and great historical depth.
Heads up
- Preserving historical accuracy means zero modern HVAC; it gets sweltering hot in summer and freezing cold in winter.
- Accessibility features are lacking; steep, narrow stone steps prevent strollers and wheelchairs from visiting upper tiers.
- Some exhibits on execution and bleak inmate lives can be intense for young kids, lacking milder child-friendly framing.
- The evening closing hours are strict; guests on the final self-guided slot may feel rushed along by staff.