Wyoming State Penitentiary - Rawlins, Wyoming - Retired Prisons on Waymarking.com

The Wyoming State Penitentiary was referred to in the state as "the old pen."

Fourteen executions were conducted through the life of the prison; nine by hanging and five by use of the the gas chamber.

An historical marker on the outside of the prison reads:

Wyoming State Penitentiary

Before Wyoming was granted Statehood, prisoners were incarcerated at the Territorial Prison located in Laramie. This was by act of Congress of January 26, 1873 and the Territorial Prison was completed December 23, 1873. It housed 67 prisoners in a formidable stone barn with gabled roof and heavily barred windows. The National Territorial Building Act of 1886 provided that a penitentiary building for the use of the territory shall be erected in the city of Rawlins at a cost not exceeding $100,000.00. Construction of this Territorial Prison was begun July 23, 1888 and was named the Wyoming State Penitentiary by the Act of Admission July 10, 1890. It is situated on 6,531 acres of land within the city of Rawlins, Carbon County. Great slabs of stone and rock observed on the outside structure, were wagoned from the Ladsay Stone Quarry south of Rawlins. The first prisoner recorded in to the institution was on July 16, 1891. Starting in December of 1901 prisoners were transferred from Laramie to Rawlins and this transfer was completed in 1904 of all prisoners incarcerated in this institution. Probably the most publicized was Bill Carlisle the Great Train Robber. The total capacity of inmates that could be incarcerated was 373.

The prison is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tours are conducted throughout the summer months from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, every hour on the half hour. In the winter months, tours can be arranged by calling ahead of time. A museum, containing the history of the prison and state law-enforcement, is located on the grounds. An exhibit that I really found interesting was on hanging. A person's own weight would trigger a timer, which would release the trap door, executing the person without human intervention. In reality, the convicted's own weight would cause their own death.

A website on the location can be located here.

Address: 500 W Walnut Street Rawlins, WY USA 82301 Open to the public: Yes Hours: Every hours on the half hour beginning at 8:30 and ending at 4:30 Museum Hours: 8:00 until 5:00 Fees?: $8 Adults $7 Senior/Child $35 Family Web link: Not listed

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