Old Idaho State Penitentiary facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site
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A facade of the Old Idaho State Penitentiary.
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| Location | 2200 Warm Springs Ave. Boise, Idaho, U.S. |
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| Area | 510 acres (2.1 km2) |
| Built | 1870–1872 |
| Architect | Inmates |
| Architectural style | Romanesque |
| NRHP reference No. | 74000729 |
| Added to NRHP | July 17, 1974 |
The Old Idaho Penitentiary State Historic Site was a real prison that operated for over 100 years. It was open from 1872 to 1973. This historic site is located east of Boise, Idaho, in the Western United States. The first building, also known as the Territorial Prison, was built in 1870. At that time, Idaho was still a "territory" and not yet a state.
From its start as just one building, the prison grew much larger. It became a complex with many different buildings. A tall, 17-foot (about 5-meter) sandstone wall surrounded the whole area. The stone for the wall came from nearby hills. The people held at the prison helped to quarry (dig out) the stone and build the new parts of the prison.
Today, the Old Idaho Penitentiary is managed by the Idaho State Historical Society. It sits at an elevation of about 2,770 feet (844 meters) above sea level.
Becoming a Museum
The Old Idaho Penitentiary was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1973. This was because it was very important as a prison from the time Idaho was a territory.
Today, the site is a museum where you can learn about its history. It also has an arboretum, which is like a garden with many different kinds of trees. The Idaho State Historical Society takes care of the site.
Cool Exhibits to See
In 1999, a man named J.C. Earl gave his amazing collection of old weapons and military items to the state of Idaho. These items are now on display at the Old Idaho Penitentiary as the J.C. Earl Exhibit.
The collection includes items from very old times, like the Bronze Age (around 1000-650 BC), up to modern weapons used for sports, law enforcement, and by the military. It's a great way to see how weapons have changed over thousands of years.
Images for kids
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Layout of the penitentiary
See also
In Spanish: Penitenciaría del estado de Old Idaho para niños
