Over the years, the prison became an industrial site and by 1885, it housed six shoe factories; clothing, broom, and twine factories; and the largest saddle tree factory in the world. Here, people have reported having strange heavy feelings and an unearthly human figure has been caught on camera. It was like wearing a backpack filled with bricks, but only in that specific cell. It would be mid-afternoon before the rioters were processed and everyone was returned to their cells. Witnesses have reported apparitions and unexplained noises, perhaps a result of some leftover spirits from the now-decommissioned prison's bloodier days. After 168 years of operation, the prison was closed in 2004 and the inmates were moved to the newJefferson City Correctional Center. The facility . The prison was authorized by the Missouri Legislature the next year. He escaped in 1967 by hiding in a truck. I shut the doors and Im like, What? and he goes, You aint going to find that guy. I said, What are you talking about? He said, I saw him. I said What did he look like? and he said, He had long blonde hair and a white T-shirt and Im like, yeah. He says, Wells, we aint got nobody in this building that looks like that, and I was just like, Whoa, youre right. It felt like somebody had just punched me in the chest.. At one point a tour guide passed through the control center to secure the outer doors, only to return just a few minutes later to find all the lockers had been opened. My full gallery of 73 photos can be viewed on Flickr here. If so, check out their website to learn more about their tours. Today, the Gothic style Missouri State Penitentiary ranks as one of the most incredible haunted prisons in the country, along with the Eastern State Penitentiary in Pennsylvania, the Ohio State Reformatory, and the West Virginia Penitentiary. The Missouri State Penitentiary was designed by John Haviland and constructed in the early 1830s to serve the newly admitted (1821) state of Missouri. It was a fascinating and bizarre phenomena but it was what happened next that really startled us. Incredible moment Missouri church foils armed robbery when former police officer pastor and congregation pray for gunmen: Reverend tells four masked men they're on 'Holy Ghost turf' and 'God's . When the prison, nicknamed The Walls, was fully completed it was surrounded by a high limestone wall with 15 officer towers. Before this, executions were conducted by hanging. Those who walk through these haunted halls may find their resolve tested like never before. In 1938, a five-story hospital unit with 240 beds was added to the complex. Greg crept into the cell and let out an audible whoa, before poking head out of the tiny room. The bloodiest 47 acres in the USA is the legend of this ghostly prison which trapped inmates within it's chiseled stone walls for 160 years! Thirty-nine were executed in the gas chamber and the final execution was made using lethal injection in 1989. Lots of famous prisoners checked in here. Amazingly, Laster nearly had his name cleared in the death of Donnell and was likely going to be paroled before being moved to a minimum-security prison (with the help of former Warden Wyrick, whom Laster had taken hostage years before) where he passed away. With no recourse to official law enforcement, moonshiners must resolve conflicts through a code. The Getty Images design is a trademark of Getty Images. Jefferson City, MO 65101 Give your students a lesson in fright with this ghost tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary! In 1914, the prison was expanded again with the addition of Housing Unit 3, which became the capital punishment and segregation unit. There are both "normal" tours of the prison and "paranormal" tours available, and honestly, we recommend both! #1 of 28 things to do in Jefferson City. This is crazy!. And one of them may want to tell their story to you. After it closed, many were razed to make room for a federal courthouse and other state buildings. I never thought Id recommend that people spend time behind bars, but ifyou get the chance for alock up inMissouri State Penitentiary, you wont be disappointed. Invisible History: Paranormal Tours of the Missouri State Penitentiary Watch on The Missouri State Penitentiary opened its doors in 1836, and in 2004, all of its remaining inmates were transported to the Jefferson City Correctional Center. Housed on death row was an Inmate named Walter Lee Donnell. Mike enlists Edd's help to make this 70's hatchback cool again. Death Row @ The Missouri State Penitentiary. Once referred to as the bloodiest 47 acres in America, the Missouri State Penitentiary housed hundreds of thousands of convicted felons during its 168-year history. As a shadow rushes by you, an apparition walks toward you, footsteps fall behind you, or a hand reaches out to touch you. Boards are the best place to save images and video clips. For more information about the prison and their variety of tours offered, visit the Missouri State Penitentiarys website at www.missouripentours.com. Parker struggles to keep up his record-breaking pace, while a huge mistake threatens Rick's operation. The prison was founded in 1836, but it wasn't long before it became known for its bloodshed and violence. As the problems keep mounting up for Rick, tempers fray at Duncan Creek. Or you could try your luck in 3-D, where many have seen shadows reaching out from cells or hiding near the doorway, and where some become uncomfortable or become physically ill. You may also visit A Hall and experience the active spirits of post-civil war criminals or those housed inside when the cell block was used for segregation. Parker pushes his crew too hard as he attempts to keep two washplants fed. To say its bleak is an absolute understatement. Although many riots, murders, and escape attempts occurred over the years, one of the biggest events in the prisons history occurred when a violent riot broke out in September 1954. A brand-new arrival shakes up the gold game as Emily shows Jane Kilcher the ropes of running a dredge. Of course, there's plenty more out there, but those three are the most commonly listed (and highest rated) that Missouri has to offer. ), which is no surprise, given the type of people that once roamed the halls and the countless deaths that have occurred here. I recently had the opportunity to explore the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, Missouri. Its intimidating and immense, and was built to withstand pretty much anything that the inmates could throw at it, and for good reason. There was a very noticeable heavy feeling, which was accompanied by varying degrees of anxiety and dizziness. The facility opened for business in March 1836, the same month as the fall of the Alamo in Texas. Discover the Missouri State Penitentiary on an overnight ghost tour for a more personalized experience in this haunted prison! The inmates attacked another guard, freed some of their friends, grabbed a sledgehammer from the machine shop, and made their way to death row. The Missouri State Penitentiary opened in 1836 and at one point was nicknamed "The Bloodiest 47 Acres in America." The Raneys must move an entire cabin into the flood zone as Marty's dam is put to the test. Missouri is full of creepy and scary things that'll make you keep one eye open at all times! The riot started and ended in Housing Unit 3. This is especially true with wide shots where there really isn't a clear subject. But MSPs ghost tours allows its tourists to delve a bit deeper into the personal lives of its inmates, many of whom may have been affected by the prisons more deadly and violent history, such as the 1954 riot where four inmates were killed and its more than 100-year history of prisoner executions. After spending nearly 15 hours exploring the grounds, I still feel like I havent even scratchedthe surface of The Walls or the legends contained within them. I knew this shoot would offer some very cool textures like peeling paint, graffiti and just some all around decay. During its long life, thousands of inmates would call The Walls home, several of whom were well-known. Investigation time at each destination varies depending on how many hours are reserved for your tour. It now serves as the main entrance to the penitentiary. Book Now Learn More Ages 12+ 2 hours, 3, 5 or 8 hours Photography Private Photography Tours It was here that he learned to box and about a year after his release in 1952, he became a professional boxer and in 1953, won the National Heavyweight Championship. Tours run from March - November each year. Missouri State Penitentiary Tours Kris Kelly deals with an excavator malfunction. Before the building was secured, as many as nine men were locked away in each cell. At a 500-year-old Tudor manor in Cheshire, Drew vies for a pair of intriguing sculptures. Vintage News Are you brave enough to visit? And, at a salvage yard in Kent, Drew uncovers a ragtag collection of Victorian era Dave is tasked with finding and transforming a 1967 GTO for a secret client from South Africa. The paranormal activity has been known to be so and intense that hundreds of investigations have been conducted, Missouri State Prison has been featured on Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, and Destination Fear, and even former staff and Inmates have stepped forward to tell of their own frightening experiences. The morning after the riot at Missouri State Penitentiary, 1954. We were thinking it wasn't very popular since it's $25 per person to take the tour. Construction of what would be known as Missouri State Penitentiary began west of the Mississippi River in 1834. Once the lights turn off and the doors close, where will you go and what experience will you have? The name was reverted back to Missouri State Penitentiary and the State of Missouri operates tours, public investigations, and private rentals. Jefferson City, MO 65101, 5-Hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation, 8-Hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation, These Walls Still Talk Overnight Investigation with MSP Staff, Private Overnight Paranormal Investigation. It features artifacts, photos, and displays about the prison, including a replica cell. After a quick tour, they put him to work welding, and the crew reveals the curse of California creek. Welcome to Missouri State Penitentiary. With no recourse to official law enforcement, moonshiners must resolve conflicts through a code. Collect, curate and comment on your files. After being told We mean business, the holdouts gave up, hostage were rescued, and order was restored. Slightly more than a month later, on December 18, 1953, Carl Austin and Bonnie Heady were executed side by side in the gas chamber at Missouri State Penitentiary, as a second chair had been installed just for this purpose. By 1932 it had grown to be one of the largest prisons in the United States with a population of over 5,000. Missouri State Penitentiary is one of the oldest prisons in the U.S. that still remains standing. A group of Inmates rushed towards Donnells cell, unlocked the door, stabbed him multiple times, then crushed his skull with a sledgehammer. This building held two general population cell blocks and segregation cells. But with a limited budget and some wacky ideas are they en route for a profit? It was known as an extremely violent prison on the "bloodiest 47 . The Hole was a medieval-torture-style dungeon where the worst (or most disliked)prisoners were dumped and forgotten about. In September 1937, Governor Lloyd Crow Stark signed a bill into law calling for execution by lethal gas. Featured Ghost Tour $35 13 and Under Not Permitted 2 hours Ghost 2-Hour Ghost Tour Tour the spooky halls of the Missouri State Penitentiary and experience a fascinating part of Jefferson City's history as you walk through the dungeon cells and other areas of the prison. There are, Click here to Learn more about ghost & paranormal tours, Click here to Learn more about history tours, Click here to Learn more about photography tours, Click here to Learn more about gift cards, Click here to Learn more about brochure request, Click here to email info@missouripentours.com, Click here to view location 115 Lafayette Street At dawn the next morning, State Policemen moved toward a group of 400 who refused t give up. James Earl Ray was held imprisoned here in 1959 for repeated offenses of burglary. When it comes to Missouri, the list of places that are thought to be haunted, and worth visiting, is endless. 1,179 Reviews. The surprise arrival of chicks means the coop needs an upgrade. In 1836, the Missouri State Penitentiary had 14 prisoners. All of the windows had been broken out and the building was filled with four inches of standing water. The gold miners of the Yukon put everything on the line in the hopes of striking it rich. This area of the cell was site of a grisly murder which took place during one of the prisonsmany riots. Laster took Warden Wyrick hostage and attempted to escape Missouri State Penitentiary in 1959, attempted escape again in 1960, assaulted a guard and attempted to escape in 1961, stabbed a fellow Inmate in 1968, attempted suicide in 1971, suffered a heart attack in 1975, and spent much of the last years of his life in segregation. Meanwhile, Dave buys back one of his first builds, a Karman Ghia. Guard Clarence Dietzel, who was working death row on that fateful day, was taken hostage. After the prison was decommissioned in 2004, Wells was asked to assist with some of the prisons ghost tours and has since begun leading the tours with his wife, who he met during his first tour of the prison, and his stepdaughter. As you step through the door, youll find yourself greeted by old iron bars, signs saying Out of Bounds, and a highly charged atmosphere. Considering that the building is older than my home country of Canada and the amount of bizarre activity happening inside its stone barriers, MSP is a living, breathing piece of Americas history, and ranks amongEastern State Penitentiary, Ohio State Reformatory, and West Virginia Penitentiary, as one of the most incredible haunted prisons in the country. The gas chamber was located at the Jefferson City Correctional Center in a small rock building set apart from the main prison. A-Hall, the prisons oldest building is said to be a hotspot of unearthly activity. One of the strangest experiences our group noticed was the overwhelming smell of body odor, which was still lingering in the air afteryears and years of being absorbed into the stone walls. Can you last inside with spirits that may be responsible for heinous crimes or this prisons notoriously violent reputation? While its true that most jails are known for their abject violence, which is understandable when you consider they house some of the most dangerous men and women in the world, Missouri takes it to a whole new level, hence thenickname, The Bloodies 47 Acres in America. The only light in these cells came from a small slit in the door. In South Carolina, flashing lights and a quick decision could make all the difference in Josh's season. Equipment often malfunctions here, disembodied voices have been captured on recorders, and some have felt an invisible force breathing down their necks. Later, a salvage yard features some amazing finds. They all have stories to tell. There are, Click here to Learn more about ghost & paranormal tours, Click here to Learn more about history tours, Click here to Learn more about photography tours, Click here to Learn more about gift cards, Click here to Learn more about brochure request, Duration 6 hours (Including Meet & Greet), Click here to email info@missouripentours.com, Click here to view location 115 Lafayette Street I just happen to be an officer that, when I worked in there, I had an experience one day.. When it was over, four inmates had been killed, one of whom was in solitary confinement who was tortured and murdered by other prisoners. If you want to plan your own visit to Missouri State Penitentiary, you can find hours for their public tours at their official website, including rates for private, all-night lockdowns as well. Within this building is a basement of dungeons, referred to as the Hole. 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