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Old Idaho Penitentiary

2445 Old Penitentiary Road, Boise, ID 83712
208-334-2844
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Ranked #3 of 78 attractions in Boise
Type: Historic Sites
Owner description: In 1872 the Idaho Territorial Prison opened its doors to some of the most desperate and mean criminals the West could offer. In 1973 the Idaho State... more » Owner description: In 1872 the Idaho Territorial Prison opened its doors to some of the most desperate and mean criminals the West could offer. In 1973 the Idaho State Penitentiary closed to inmates. Now our doors are open for visitors to explore over 100 years of Idaho's unique prison history. Open year-round, visitors of the Old Idaho Penitentiary can walk through solitary confinement, cell blocks, and the gallows. Visit today and relive the Old Pen's exciting past of daring escapes, scandals, and executions. Call for more details about special events, educational programs and guided tours. « less
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107 reviews from our community

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High Point, North Carolina
Senior Contributor
33 reviews 33 reviews
8 attraction reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
79 helpful votes 79 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 May 2013

We had a great guide who told us plenty of great stories about life at the prison. It's such an amazing place. Be sure to go next door and visit the botanical gardens too.

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
See 3 more reviews by MyDime for Boise
Salt Lake City, Utah
Senior Reviewer
6 reviews 6 reviews
3 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 6 May 2013

We had some free time on our hands during our weekend in Boise and decided to take a gamble on this place. It was fantastic...well worth the $5 entry fee! I would have enjoyed having a guided tour to shed a little more light on the history and happenings, but they had very nice displays and lots of information for... More

Was this review helpful? Yes 1
Maspalomas, Spain
Top Contributor
62 reviews 62 reviews
34 attraction reviews
Reviews in 37 cities Reviews in 37 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 26 April 2013

The "Old Idaho Penitentiary" is a must see, and I'm glad I visited it, because it was very interesting and at the same time very "educational". The whole complex is now part of the Idaho State Historical Society. We were greeted by a nice lady who asked us to pay a total of a small entrance fee, and gave us... More

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Rexburg, Idaho
Reviewer
3 reviews 3 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 16 April 2013

Fascinating! Wonderful experience. It was nice to be able to walk around and soak in the whole experience. It was easy to understand and it easy to know where to go!

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See 2 more reviews by Jim W for Boise
Trento
Senior Contributor
24 reviews 24 reviews
Reviews in 21 cities Reviews in 21 cities
16 helpful votes 16 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 13 April 2013

It was the first time I visited a penitentiary and it was a strange sensation. This museum is good, but they need to invest some money in order to maintain it in the proper condition.

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See 2 more reviews by LorenzoTrento for Boise
St. Catharines, Canada
Senior Contributor
22 reviews 22 reviews
14 attraction reviews
Reviews in 15 cities Reviews in 15 cities
8 helpful votes 8 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed 10 April 2013

We targetted this spot on our month long journey across the United States and it did not let us down. This place made Alcatraz look like the Hilton! We were impressed with the fact that you got to take the tour by yourself and view everything, and by doing this we got to take our time and see so much... More

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Boise, Idaho
Top Contributor
53 reviews 53 reviews
17 attraction reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
4 helpful votes 4 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 9 April 2013

My wife and I did not plan to spend the day at the Old Idaho Penitentiary, but we did. We were totally fascinated about the local history and the people involved; both the good and not so good folks. Idaho has sure had it's share a interesting people.

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See 14 more reviews by Rob H for Boise
Boise, ID
Contributor
14 reviews 14 reviews
4 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 April 2013

The Old Penitentiary is an interesting step into the past. The little museum explaining jail tattoos is fascinating and the view of the old gallows is sobering. It is a good place to wander and imagine what life must have been like for an inmate. And it is also an excellent place for photography. Learn some Idaho history at the... More

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See 2 more reviews by idria50 for Boise
NW
Senior Contributor
28 reviews 28 reviews
13 attraction reviews
Reviews in 13 cities Reviews in 13 cities
6 helpful votes 6 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed 8 April 2013

This is a neat place to visit and see how the prison was run back in the day. Has some good history and its haunted! Ghost Adventures crew visited here and got some great stuff.

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See 3 more reviews by dbouncer for Boise
Boise, Idaho
Contributor
20 reviews 20 reviews
10 attraction reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
3 of 5 stars Reviewed 24 March 2013

This is fine if you're interested in this sort of thing. You can go into the old cells and there's a small gift shop. It's located next to the botanical gardens, which are really pretty in the spring and summer.

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See 8 more reviews by Idahogranny for Boise

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