Wetumpka State Penitentiary facts for kids
Main building at the turn of the 20th century
|
|
| Location | Wetumpka, Alabama |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 32°33′2″N 86°11′28″W / 32.55056°N 86.19111°W |
| Status | Closed |
| Opened | 1842 |
| Closed | 1942 |
|
Alabama State Penitentiary
|
|
| Area | 3 acres (1 ha) |
| Built | 1839–41 |
| Architect | W.H. Thomas |
| NRHP reference No. | 73000342 |
| Added to NRHP | May 8, 1973 |
The Wetumpka State Penitentiary, also known as the Alabama State Penitentiary, was the first state prison in Alabama. It was built on the east side of the Coosa River in Wetumpka, Alabama. People often called it the "Walls of Alabama" or simply "Walls."
For many years, this prison held both men and women, but they were kept in separate areas. In the 1920s, it became a prison just for women. A new women's prison opened nearby in 1942. After that, fewer prisoners were kept at the old Wetumpka facility. The state then started selling parts of the land. This historic site was added to the National Register of Historic Places on May 8, 1973. All the buildings that were once there have been taken down since the late 1900s.
Building the First Alabama Prison
On January 26, 1839, the lawmakers in Alabama decided to create the state's first prison. This decision was made by the Alabama Legislature when Arthur P. Bagby was the Governor of Alabama.
On August 21 of that year, the state bought land along the Coosa River in Wetumpka. This spot was chosen because it was in the middle of the state. Governor Bagby himself placed the first stone for the prison in October 1839.
By 1841, the prison was finished. It cost about $84,889 to build. The prison had 208 cells for prisoners. It was surrounded by walls that were 25 feet (about 7.6 meters) tall. The very first prisoner arrived at the prison in 1842.
Changes and Closure
In 1922, the Wetumpka prison changed its purpose. It became a prison used only for women.
A fire damaged part of the Wetumpka prison on January 23, 1931. But the prison staff worked quickly. They had the facility working again within 40 days after the fire.
Later, another fire happened at the Speigner prison on November 28, 1932. Because of this, prisoners from Speigner were moved to Wetumpka. They stayed there until December 26, 1932. That's when temporary buildings were ready at Speigner.
In 1941, the prison was given a new name: the Julia Tutwiler Prison. It was still mostly used for female prisoners. A brand new prison, called the Julia Tutwiler Prison for Women, opened in December 1942. It was built less than a mile north of the old Wetumpka State Penitentiary.
After the new prison opened, the old Wetumpka prison was used less and less. Starting in 1945, the State of Alabama began selling small pieces of the old prison land. In 1973, the prison and its land were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Some buildings from the prison lasted until the last few decades of the 1900s, but they have all been taken down since then.
See also
- In Spanish: Penitenciaría estatal de Wetumpka para niños
