Old Idaho State Penitentiary

The "Old Pen" is a stirring glimpse into prison life in the West from the 19th Century onward. Built in 1870, the castle-like fortress underwent renovation over the years, often using prison labor. Over 13,000 prisoners served time in the Old Penitentiary over a period of 101 years. Complete with solitary confinement cells and gallows, this eerie, yet intriguing penitentiary was also where the notorious Lady Bluebeard was imprisoned. The mighty prison is upheld by the Idaho State Historical Society, its complex a home to several notable sites like the Territorial Prison, the Dining Hall and a tracery of cell houses. What was once a formidable force, is now a stimulating museum open for in-depth perusal, and harbors myriad exhibits that date as far back as the Bronze Age.