First opened in 1836, the former Missouri State Penitentiary operated until 2004, and was apparently the oldest prison west of the Mississippi, beating out the one we saw recently in Fort Madison, Iowa. It is located on East Capitol Street a few blocks east of the Missouri State Capitol.

As is typical, based off the model of Eastern State Penitentiary (I have photos of that place abandoned, somewhere), it was built to look like a fortress, projecting a sense of security to the general public.

It has great views out over the Missouri River, though I doubt the inmates could enjoy them while incarcerated inside.

Much of the complex is still standing, and of course many of the inmates came from St. Louis. Though from what I understand some criminals were incarcerated at the Workhouse on South Broadway, even for some felonies. It is a bit confusing.

The cell blocks range in age, and the one peaking up over the wall below is the oldest, from what I understand.

The main building is a nice example of what might be called Romanesque Revival.

As the door below says, there was a “Female Department” at one point.

Below of course is the seal of Missouri and a broken clock.

And then there are the walls. In fact, the nickname of the prison was “The Walls.”

Back in grade school, junior high and high school, I went on three trips to Jefferson City, and each visit included a “Scared Straight symposium” with inmates who met our class on a hill outside the prison. The inmates, who had imminent release dates and were in good standing, would regale us with increasingly horrifying stories of prison life depending on our age. By the time we went in high school, the stories were pretty bad. Don’t go to prison.

There is a new, modern prison outside of town on No More Victims Drive.

This view, from down below, shows three of the cell blocks, each from a different era.