Deer Lodge, Montana -
Old Prison Museum

Really creepy, thus place was way better than I expected. I went there on a rainy day in April, when the temperature was in the 30's. That added to the scare factor a lot since I was cold the whole time. You could spend a lot of time here.

It's not Alcatraz by a long shot, but the history of the prison was documented and maintained quite well. There are interesting stories, like "Turkey Pete," or the riot in the '50s -- the staff is quite knowledgeable. It's a self guided tour, so you get a pamphlet to explain everything.

The creepiest parts: there is a large noose in a hellish burnt-out theater and you can hear pigeons (did NOT sound like pigeons), and a completely freaky hallway where only the guards went to watch over prisoners when they watched movies. My friend and I were freaked out in that hallway real bad! [Thomas, 04/26/2011]

Gift shop in front where prisoners' crafts are sold. Beautiful paintings, horsehair keychains, and leather goods. The old territorial prison entrance is through the gift shop (admission fee); the prison looks and feels haunted like the Rawlins prison. The back prison area has low ceilings -- five cells clustered together, all facing the cell shower. Cement shoe soles were mandated for all prisoners with history of escaping over walls. Built late 1800's by convict labor.

Prison closed 1979, believe there is a newer prison nearby where crafts are made. [Irma Roth, 12/01/2008]

[RA: Even though it's been closed since 1960, the cells in the old prison reportedly still smell like convicts, and its northwest guard tower has bazooka blast damage from a riot in 1939. The new Montana State Prison is just four miles down the road.]