# Site: missouripentours.com # URL: https://missouripentours.com # Generated: 2026-07-26 03:00:10 # Version: 1.2 # File Type: llms-full.txt # Total Pages: 20 --- ## Home URL: https://missouripentours.com/ # Missouri State Penitentiary Tour the Missouri State Penitentiary and hear the stories that defined the prison for 168 years. Book Now Once the oldest continually operating prison west of the Mississippi River, the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) operated for 168 years before decommissioning in 2004. It now serves as a great historic landmark in downtown Jefferson City welcoming thousands of guests annually from all over the world. Whether visitors choose to take a history or ghost tour, they will walk through historic housing units, the upper courtyard, and the gas chamber. Learn More View FAQs ## Popular Tours ## Inside the Experience Real guest reviews from visitors who have walked the cellblocks, explored the prison’s history, and experienced its darker side firsthand. ## Voted the #1 Activity in Jefferson City on TripAdvisor Book Now #### Questions? ## Get Your Answers ## View FAQs ## Our History --- ## Tours URL: https://missouripentours.com/tours/ # Infamous Prison Tours Ready to discover the history of Missouri’s prison that was once called “the bloodiest 47 acres in America?” We have three fun and unique ways to explore this infamous landmark. With our history tours, learn all about the facility and its notorious inmates. Are you an aspiring ghost hunter who wants a fun and frightening experience? We have ghost hunting and paranormal investigation tours that will guarantee a “spooktacular” time. And if you’re a shutterbug looking to snap unique photos for your portfolio, our private photography tours let you see MSP through a whole new lens. Just select your tour type and see history come alive! ## 2-Hour History Tour Step back in time and discover the intriguing history of the infamous Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided tour! Hear about escape attempts, riots, female inmates, and more. Book Now Learn More ## 3-Hour In-Depth History Tour Learn the fascinating history and tales of Missouri’s most notorious state penitentiary with this in-depth three-hour tour that covers more details than the two-hour tour. Book Now Learn More ## 3-Hour Former Inmate Tour Learn about the Missouri State Penitentiary from a unique angle on this tour that includes a Q&A with a former inmate! Discover how the inmates spent their days within the walls. Book Now Learn More ## 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. Book Now Learn More ## 3-Hour Ghost Hunt Go ghost hunting through the eerie halls of the infamous Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided hunt! Get your EMF meters ready to see if you can find any paranormal activity. Book Now Learn More ## 5-Hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation Explore the strange and unbelievable occurrences at the Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided overnight ghost hunt. *Unavailable in October Book Now Learn More ## 8-Hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation Join our staff for an overnight paranormal investigation of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Book a tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary and spend the night searching for paranormal activity. *Unavailable in October Book Now Learn More ## These Walls Still Talk – Overnight Investigation with MSP Staff Spend a night investigating paranormal activity with the Missouri State Penitentiary staff. This special ghost-hunting event includes a meet-and-greet and an after-investigation recap. 2026 Inside the Walls dates: May 30 & September 12 Book Now Learn More ## Private 2-Hour History Tour Discover Jefferson City’s lawless past with a private tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Perfect for groups of 25 or more, this private tour includes everything you want to know. Call to Book Learn More ## Private 3-Hour In-Depth History Tour Explore the Missouri State Penitentiary with a group of 25 or more on this private experience that goes more in-depth than the private two-hour tour of the facility. Call to Book Learn More ## Private 2-Hour Ghost Tour Book a special private tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary and explore Jefferson City’s uncanny history with a personalized touch. Call us for more details! Call to Book Learn More ## Private Overnight Paranormal Investigation Discover the Missouri State Penitentiary on an overnight ghost tour for a more personalized experience in this haunted prison! Call us for more details. *Unavailable in October Call to Book Learn More ## Private Student History Tour Bring your students to learn the fascinating history of Jefferson City’s most notorious penitentiary! This private tour is perfect for student groups and includes age-appropriate content. Call to Book Learn More ## Private Student Ghost Tour Give your students a lesson in fright with this ghost tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Content is age appropriate and includes state history and MSP facts and details. Call to Book Learn More ## Private Photography Tours Grab your camera and photography equipment and snap great shots of the Missouri State Penitentiary on this private photography tour. Call to Book Learn More ## Inside the Experience Real guest reviews from visitors who have walked the cellblocks, explored the prison’s history, and experienced its darker side firsthand. --- ## Ghost & Paranormal Tours URL: https://missouripentours.com/ghost-paranormal-tours/ # Ghost & Paranormal Tours Our ghost and paranormal tours are a guaranteed fun and frightening experience. Whether you want to learn the ghostly stories of inmates that some say still roam the halls or you want to roll up your sleeves and learn to ghost hunt or investigate paranormal activity, our ghost and paranormal tours are a great way to experience the otherworldly side of the Missouri State Penitentiary. #### 13 and under are not permitted ## 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. Book Now Learn More #### 13 and under are not permitted ## 3-Hour Ghost Hunt Go ghost hunting through the eerie halls of the infamous Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided hunt! Get your EMF meters ready to see if you can find any paranormal activity. Book Now Learn More #### 17 and under are not permitted ## 5-Hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation Explore the strange and unbelievable occurrences at the Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided overnight ghost hunt. *Unavailable in October Book Now Learn More #### 17 and under are not permitted ## 8-Hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation Join our staff for an overnight paranormal investigation of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Book a tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary and spend the night searching for paranormal activity. *Unavailable in October Book Now Learn More #### 17 and under are not permitted ## These Walls Still Talk – Overnight Investigation with MSP Staff Spend a night investigating paranormal activity with the Missouri State Penitentiary staff. This special ghost-hunting event includes a meet-and-greet and an after-investigation recap. 2026 Inside the Walls dates: May 30 & September 12 Book Now Learn More #### 13 and under are not permitted ## Private 2-Hour Ghost Tour Book a special private tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary and explore Jefferson City’s uncanny history with a personalized touch. Call us for more details! Call to Book Learn More #### 17 and under are not permitted ## Private Overnight Paranormal Investigation Discover the Missouri State Penitentiary on an overnight ghost tour for a more personalized experience in this haunted prison! Call us for more details. *Unavailable in October Call to Book Learn More #### Ages 12+ ## Private Student Ghost Tour Give your students a lesson in fright with this ghost tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Content is age appropriate and includes state history and MSP facts and details. Call to Book Learn More ## Inside the Experience Real guest reviews from visitors who have walked the cellblocks, explored the prison’s history, and experienced its darker side firsthand. --- ## FAQs URL: https://missouripentours.com/faqs/ # Frequently Asked Questions Unfortunately, we cannot make exceptions for the age requirement, even with a parent or guardian.Yes, tours are still conducted when it is raining.All tours of the Missouri State Penitentiary are guide-led. We do not conduct self-guided tours.No. The inmates were transferred to the new Jefferson City Correctional Center when the Missouri State Penitentiary was decommissioned in September 2004.We do not have any previous inmate records, as the State of Missouri preserves this information within the Missouri State Archives. You can contact the  Missouri State Archives  to inquire about a previous inmate.The tour season runs from March through November each year (weather dependent). There are no tours during December, January or February.While we do accept walk-ins, we highly recommend reservations in advance to ensure your spot on the tour. Once a tour is full, tickets can no longer be purchased.Yes. There may be a short amount of time seated; however, guests will be standing for most of their tour. There is seating available in two of the three housing units (for history tours) and walking between buildings. Ghost tours have more stair climbing involved and standing (less seating).We can make a reservation change based on availability. Call the Prison Tour Office at   573-632-3999  for further information.There aren’t any physical tickets for the tour. After you register for the tour, you will receive an email confirmation. You are welcome to print the confirmation and bring it with you, but it is not required. The staff will have a list of everyone registered and will be able to verify your spot on the tour.Yes, portions of the tour are outside. If it is raining, tour guides will adjust the time spent outside.No. Due to age of the buildings, the tour is not entirely handicap accessible. Individuals can usually get along fine with walkers or canes; however, many of the door ways are too narrow for wheelchairs and there are several flights of stairs on the tour routes.Everyone participating in a tour at the Missouri State Penitentiary must sign a Waiver and Release of Liability. For guests under the age of 18, a parent or guardian must sign the waiver. As of 2024, we have transitioned to digital waivers. Upon completion of booking your tour, you will receive a separate email with waiver instructions. If you or members of your party are unable to sign the waiver in advance, check-in can be done using our on-site iPad located at the main entrance.Since there is no heat or air conditioning at the facility we recommend that guests dress for the weather. Additionally, we do not allow food or drink on the property, but we do sell bottled water in our Souvenir Shop.We do allow you to take photographs during the tour, but we ask that you not video the tour.On-street parking is provided at no charge on Lafayette Street or State Street.Our cancellation policy (for a refund) requires 48 hours' notice. Otherwise, no refund will be issued, but the tour can be rescheduled. --- ## Contact URL: https://missouripentours.com/contact/ # Contact Us ### Phone 573.632.3999 ### Email info@missouripentours.com ### Location Missouri State Penitentiary 115 Lafayette Street Jefferson City, MO 65101 Get Directions ## How can we help you today? Please email, call or fill out the adjacent form if you wish to contact Missouri State Penitentiary. We look forward to speaking with you. Thanks! --- ## Brochure Request URL: https://missouripentours.com/brochure-request/ # Request an MSP Brochure ## Request Your Brochure To request your free copy of the official Missouri State Penitentiary Visitors Guide, please fill out the form below. Your guide will arrive within 1 to 2 weeks via USPS Standard Mail. You can also pick up a guide at our Jefferson City Visitors Center or  download the digital copy . See you for  your tour  soon! #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## History URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/ # The History of the Missouri State Penitentiary ## Jefferson City's Past Comes to Life Still owned by the State of Missouri, the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) opened in 1836 along the banks of the Missouri River in Jefferson City, Missouri, the state capital. The prison housed inmates for 168 years and was the oldest continually operating prison west of the Mississippi until decommissioned in 2004. The Jefferson City Convention & Visitors Bureau now offers various tours at the site once named "the bloodiest 47 acres in America" by Guy Magazine. Click below to find out about the inmates (including notable women), executions, escapes, and the famous prison riot of 1954 before you arrive for one of our  history tours ! ### Timeline ### Infamous Inmates ### Executions ### Centennial Cells ### Women in MSP ### The 1954 Riot ### Escapes ### The Museum #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Centennial Cells URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/centennial-cells/ # Centennial Cells ## Discovery of the Centennial Cells In the mid 1980s, officials from the MSP, the Department of Corrections, and the Division of Adult Institutions unearthed an old cell block that predated the Civil War. The discovery happened after a court order was issued to put in a recreation yard for offenders that were on death row. When the construction between Housing Units 2 and 3 began, and the crews started digging, they realized they hit something solid.  This finding led to an exploration of six cells built around the 1840s, which were part of the long-buried Centennial Hall. Based on research, this is now believed to be the oldest existing building on the MSP property. ## Expanding MSP History While a plan to preserve the buried cells for the future had long been a thought on paper, the Centennial Cells preservation project didn’t begin to take shape until 2019. The first phase of adding the cell block to the MSP tours included surveying the area. After completing the survey, the crew moved into phase two and began digging at the site. Phase three included excavating cells, installing sidewalks, and providing stair access to the cell. #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Escapes URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/escapes/ # Escapes from the Missouri State Penitentiary #### Escapes ## Inmates that Flew the Coup in Jefferson City Keeping desperate and restless people behind bars will always present challenges to corrections officials. Early in the Missouri State Penitentiary’s history, escapes were commonplace. Between a lack of a secure perimeter and prisoners working in the community, many escapes were accomplished without much planning or ingenuity.By 1868, the convict population had grown to 735. Many of them worked outside the walls, and escapes were a common occurrence. One convict escaped and stole a citizen’s horse to make his getaway. Others terrorized the citizenry. Townspeople armed themselves to the teeth in order to protect their families. In 1868, a spectacular and terrifying story made the headlines: an underground passage was discovered reaching nearly under the wall. It had been detected just in time. The townspeople shuddered at the lurid prospect of 700 loose convicts robbing and ravishing at will. Public outcry demanded that something be done about the prison.In 1870, some convicts successfully gained their freedom by jumping on board of freight trains. The prison guards complained that the trainmen of the Pacific Railroad were intentionally encouraging the inmates to escape. Guard J.P. Raithel testified,  ”I have seen the managers of the train throw apples to the convicts and motion at them. When I arrived at the train, the managers seemed to be angry. I think I would regard the motions made by the trainmen as being friendly to the escape of the prisoners.” While news of an escape from the Penitentiary or from a convict work detail always made headlines, some prisoners never even made it all the way to Jefferson City and had better luck with the “water closet dodge.” Two Vernon County prisoners were en route to the Penitentiary by train, and after they had traveled some distance toward Jefferson City they complained that their leg irons were hurting them. An officer removed them and fastened them over the convicts’ coats instead of over their wrists. Later, the two asked permission to go to the water closet of the car while an officer remained outside and waited, but it was already too late. The two prisoners had easily wriggled out of the wrist restraints, opened a window and leapt out. As the train was traveling at half speed at the time, the pair escaped unhurt. By the time the train was stopped and men sent back to look, the convicts had disappeared into the thick forest. At 3:00 on the afternoon of November 24, 1905, four prisoners met at the stockade gate. George Ryan handed out Colt .44 revolvers and a large supply of ammunition to fellow convicts Harry Vaughan, Edward Raymond and Hiram Blake. The four then entered the office of Deputy Warden R. E. See and ordered him to put his hands in the air. Instead, he went for his gun and was shot in the shoulder. After See slumped to the floor, he and another person in the office were grabbed and used as shields for the men as they raced across the yard toward a large iron gate that led outside. Guard John Clay was gatekeeper for the day and was ordered to hold up his hands. While in this vulnerable position, one of the four shot him in the head, killing him. Another guard, Ephriam Allison, noticed the commotion through a grated door and yelled, “What’s going on in there?” He was shot twice and also killed. The escapees then placed a charge of nitroglycerin on their last remaining hurdle to freedom: a large gate at the end of the driveway. It blew the lock completely off the gate and made a jagged hole large enough for the men to drive through. The four ran down along the railroad tracks towards the train depot, shooting back at the pursuing guards. One of the fleeing prisoners, Hiram Blake, was shot and killed by police officer John Bruner. The remaining three jumped into a wagon. Using the driver as a shield, they grabbed the reins and whipped the horses to a full gallop down Madison Street south to Dunklin. In front of the Capital City Brewery, Ryan fainted from sheer fright and fell off the wagon. Vaughan and Raymond kept going until a young boy bravely ran into the street and grabbed the bridle of one of the horses, stopping the wagon. Vaughan leapt from the wagon and tried to shoot the boy, but his gun wouldn’t fire. A policeman apprehended the escapees and they were returned to the Penitentiary and placed in solitary confinement. George Ryan confessed to the escape plot and told prison officials that the guns, ammunition and explosives had been brought to them by H.E. Spencer, an ex-convict. After a series of trials and appeals, the Missouri Supreme Court finally found the three guilty of murder in the first degree and sentenced them to hang. Ryan was upset by the verdict, as he felt he should have been treated more leniently for confessing the details of the escape plot. Dressed in suits, the men were hanged side-by-side on June 27, 1907. The hanging took place in the Cole County jail yard on Monroe Street in front of a huge crowd.There were 16 watch towers. These guard stations were numbered and each guard had a special toned whistle signal by which he talked to the central office. Some of the towers were very picturesque and at a distance resembled the old feudal castle towers of the old world. Each guard was heavily armed to prevent escape via the wall route. The guards were always on the lookout, both day and night. They were divided into two watches of 12 hours each. One industrious convict escaped in 1916 using a method that had never been tried before. Convict George Smith, a lifer serving a murder sentence, hid from officers one morning as they escorted the breakfast line to eat. Smith took a 16-foot scantling and dragged it to the east wall. In a feat of extraordinary strength, he climbed hand over hand to the top of the wall, scrambled over and dropped to the ground below. It was a steep drop, but he escaped injury. He then raced for the railroad track and was long gone before discovered missing from his prison factory job. Amazed prison officials could only shake their heads. The  Jefferson City Democrat Tribune  dubbed Smith the “Human Fly” and called his getaway a “remarkable feat.”On a bitterly cold January afternoon in 1926, one of the most desperate attempts to escape the Penitentiary made headlines. Two convicts, Carl Pittman and Fred Hildebrand, were working at the machine shop. While the guard had his back turned, the two grabbed a ladder and, quick as a flash, were up and over the wall. Guards on towers 11 and 12 saw the two leap to the ground and opened fire on them as they raced toward the river. They alerted other guards who pursued the escapees with shotguns. Hildebrand reached the river first and began gingerly walking across the ice cakes. Pittman jumped into the icy water and swam toward a cake, clinging to it for dear life. The guards on shore fired their weapons, yelling and cursing. When the two convicts had made it halfway across the river, the current suddenly caught the ice cakes they were riding and swept them back to the prison side of the river. The guards raced alongside them, finally catching up where Prison Farm No. 1 bordered the river. By now, the freezing, exhausted convicts gladly reached for the sticks held out to them by the guards. One of the men was near collapse and was slipping from his ice cake as he was rescued. Both men were bundled in blankets and rushed to the prison hospital in serious condition with frostbitten hands and feet. Later, the two said they had hoped to reach the opposite side and hide in the willows until nightfall. Except for the tricky current, they might have been successful.One man, whose idea to leave town in 1924 was a little premature, earned a place in escape history. While most escape attempts were made by convicts out on work detail, or were carefully planned strategies to scale the wall or storm the gates, Walter Holub had a different idea. Holub had been sent to clean out a sewer pipe that lay within the prison. Not caring much for doing the assigned job, he stuck his head into the 16-inch pipe and wriggled his way to the outside where he emerged coated with sewage. He managed to make his way out of Jefferson City and, in fact, entirely out of the state before he was apprehended in Denver, Colorado six months later after robbing a drugstore.James Earl Ray began a record of scrapes, big and small, with the law serving terms in Joliet and Pontiac prisons in Illinois and Leavenworth Federal Penitentiary in Kansas. On October 10, 1959, Ray and James Owens, an ex-convict, held up a Kroger store in St. Louis. Ray was given a 20-year sentence at MSP. A few months into his sentence, Ray made an unsuccessful escape attempt by climbing over the wall on a homemade ladder that collapsed. Five years later, he made it to a roof before being spotted. He became well-known for his ability to disappear for days on end inside the prison. On Sunday morning, April 23, 1967, Ray’s escape plan worked. Reporting to work early in the prison bakery, he was helped into one of the large boxes used to ship loaves of bread. A truck from Renz Farm drove in to pick up bread and Ray rode out of MSP in the bread box, escaping from the truck somewhere between MSP and Renz Farm. Ray later went on to plan and perform the assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. (see Infamous Inmates). #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Executions URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/executions/ # Executions in the Gas Chamber #### Executions ## Inmates That Met Their Ending in MSP In September of 1937, Governor Lloyd Crow Stark signed a bill calling for execution by lethal gas. No longer would the local sheriff be responsible for carrying out the death penalty for those convicted in his county. The days of public hangings in Missouri were to come to an end finally. Many members of the legislature were strongly opposed to the bill and argued that more death sentences would result. Nevertheless, Missouri was, on the whole, a state that supported the death penalty for serious crimes. The bill was changed to lethal gas instead of the electric chair, and passed. In total, 40 inmates were put to death in the gas chamber between 1937 and 1989 when MSP death row ended and all capital punishment inmates were moved to the new prison at Potosi. Age : 33 Crime : Convicted of killing Dr. J.T. McCampbell and negro druggist in a robbery on March 15, 1933, in Kansas City, Missouri. Execution Date : March 4, 1938 Noted Details : Pellets released at 6:21 a.m. Pronounced dead by Dr. W.W. Rambo between 6:25 and 6:26 a.m. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 33 Crime : Convicted of killing W. Dale Sanford of Kansas City, Kansas on April 9, 1936, on HWY 40 near Oak Grove, Missouri. Boyer met him in Kansas City, Missouri, and persuaded him to drive to St. Louis. After killing him he took his car and clothes. Execution Date : March 5, 1938 Noted Details : Taken to the gas chamber at 5:00 a.m., entered the gas chamber at 6:18 a.m., and was pronounced dead at 6:23-6:24 a.m. by Dr. W.W. Rambo and Dr. H.S. Gove. Last Meal : Egg sandwich and coffee. Age : 35 Crime : Convicted of brutally attacking a farm woman in New Madrid County, Missouri after tying her husband to a bedpost. Execution Date : July 14, 1938 Noted Details : Taken to the gas chamber at 12:03 a.m. Pellets released at 12:07 a.m. Pronounced dead after four minutes. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 28 Crime : Convicted of killing Howard Preston during a Kansas City, Missouri burglary on the night of October 19, 1936. Execution Date : October 28, 1938 Noted Details : None mentioned. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 63 Crime : Convicted of killing George Williams, a farmer, near St. Genevieve, Missouri on August 11, 1935. Williams was killed over two hogs. Execution Date : February 15, 1939 Noted Details : Williamson was first sen­tenced to hang for his crime. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 31 Crime : Convicted of fatally shooting Daisy Edmond, his paramour, on August 3, 1938, at her home in Joplin, Missouri. Execution Date : September 20, 1940 Noted Details : Jackson died in the gas chamber with Robert West. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 40 Crime : Convicted of killing two children, Sarah Mitchell, age 13, and Willis Mitchell, age 15, on September 27, 1940, over an argument for $5. The crime took place near Neelyville, Missouri. Execution Date : January 3, 1941 Noted Details : Johnson also killed two others in the same incident which included the children’s grandmother. Last Meal : Fried chicken, gravy, biscuits, lemon soda and a cigar. Age : 73 Crime : Convicted of murdering a teenage girl with a pitch fork after she refused his “amorous advances.” Execution Date : June 16, 1944 Noted Details : While being led into the gas chamber, Lambus asked the Warden “to call the Governor man again.” Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 22 Crime : Convicted for the 1941 slaying of St. Louis county farmer Martin Twillman. Twillman was shot when Lyles and William E. Talbert attempted to steal the farmer’s truck. Execution Date : May 25, 1945 Noted Details : The Lyles execution was the first in Missouri where a female was allowed to be a witness. William Talbert was executed for the same crime on November 16, 1945. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 23 Crime : Convicted of the brutal murder, beating, and burning death of Mrs. Mary Santo, age 56, on December 12, 1943 in Pacific, Missouri. Execution Date : August 16, 1946 Noted Details : Ellis acted in concert with Jesse Sanford who was executed on the same date. The motive for the crime was robbery, which netted only $5. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 37 Crime : Convicted of murdering Lena Davidson, age 19, during a robbery in St. Louis, Missouri on May 1, 1945. Ramsey slit her throat. Execution Date : January 9, 1947 Noted Details : None mentioned. Last Meal : Spring fried chicken, french fried potatoes, cream gravy, peas, biscuits, and lemon pie. Age : 37 Crime : Convicted of the rape and slaying of Mary Lou Jenkins. Jenkins was strangled with a lamp cord on February 5, 1946 at her home in Columbia. Execution Date : September 26, 1947 Noted Details : Cochran was arrested after he killed his wife with a shotgun. He admitted his crime. Last Meal : T-bone steak, french fries, scalloped corn, cream gravy, bread, butter, cake, and coffee, and then decided not to eat his meal. Age : 35 Crime : Convicted of shooting and killing a Kansas City, Missouri police officer at an apartment during a gun battle on September 20, 1948. Execution Date : December 2, 1949 Noted Details : During the gun battle, Scott killed four policemen and a bystander. Last Meal : Fried chicken, french fries and ice cream. Age : 39 Crime : Convicted of beating MSP inmate John Manor to death with a hammer in the prison yard on January 10, 1948. Execution Date : January 5, 1951 Noted Details : Before his execution, McGee was asked why he didn’t eat his last meal. His response was “I’m saving it for later.” McGee and Manor, his victim, entered MSP in 1937 for the murder of a Mississippi County man. On October 31, 1945, he escaped with inmate Bert Ivan Grimm and kidnapped a Jefferson City insurance agent. Last Meal : Stewed chicken, biscuits and ice cream. Age : 53 Crime : Convicted of killing Louvenia Julia Webb in Kansas City, Missouri in 1951. Execution Date : May 29, 1953 Noted Details : Quilling also killed two other black women; Mrs. Irene Boggs and Cal E. Dodd. Last Meal : Fried chicken, fried catfish, fried spare ribs, french fries, potato salad, rolls, fig jam, coffee, milk, pie and cake. ### Bonnie B. Heady Age : 41 Crime : Convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Bobby Greenlease. Heady and Carl Austin Hall demanded $600K in ransom, at the time the largest ransom in the history of the nation, which was paid. Unknown to the family, Heady and Hall had already killed and buried Bobby soon after the abduction. Execution Date : December 18, 1953 Noted Details : The judge who sentenced Heady and Hall called it the “most cold-blooded, brutal murder” he had ever tried. They were executed side-by-side. Heady was the only woman to be executed in the gas chamber. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 46 Crime : Convicted of killing a friend, Earl Harrison, over an argument as to who was the best baseball pitcher. Booker killed his friend on August 15, 1953. Execution Date : April 1, 1955 Noted Details : Staff at MSP were nervous because Booker’s execution was the first following the disastrous 1954 riots. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 42 Crime : Convicted of shooting his wife on May 5, 1953 while she was in bed. His step daughter witnessed the crime. Execution Date : September 13, 1957 Noted Details : Pronounced dead at 12:09 a.m. by Warden E.V. Nash. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 32 Crime : Convicted of brutally raping and murdering a 13-year-old girl on July 23, 1961 in Joplin, Missouri. Execution Date : March 6, 1964 Noted Details : On June 24, 1962, Odom and another Death Row inmate attempted an escape by seizing and overpowering a prison guard. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 22 Crime : Convicted of murdering a 15-year-old delivery boy during a robbery in a St. Louis, Missouri drugstore. Execution Date : February 26, 1965 Noted Details : Llyod L. Anderson was the last execution in Missouri by means of lethal gas. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 34 Crime : Convicted of killing Kansas City, Missouri motorcycle patrolman, William Cavanaugh, in a tavern holdup on April 7, 1936. Execution Date : March 4, 1938 Noted Details : Pellets released at 6:21 a.m. Pronounced dead by Dr. W.W. Rambo between 6:24 and 6:25 a.m. Last Meal : Pork chops, potatoes and biscuits. Age : 32 Crime : Convicted of the murders of Justice of the Peace Philip R. Rabenau and Dr. William E. Poole after a quarrel over litigation in the justice court. Execution Date : June 30, 1938 Noted Details : Batson was condemned to hang for slaying Poole but the supreme court reversed that sentence on a technicality, later upholding his conviction for shooting Rabenau. Last Meal : A large steak. Age : 28 Crime : Convicted of killing George Speer, a St. Louis taxi driver, after robbing him of $3.25 on January 17, 1936. Speer identified King on his death bed. Execution Date : November 4, 1938 Noted Details : Before his execution at 1:28 a.m., King smoked cigarettes and chatted with prison staff. He was dead seven minutes later. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 28 Crime : Richetti, Charles Arthur “Pretty Boy” Floyd, and Verne Miller, a South Dakota Sheriff turned gangster, were named by federal officials as the Kansas City, Missouri Union Station murderers. The crime took place on June 17, 1933. Killed were federal agent R.J. Caffrey, Police Chief Otto Reid of McAlester, Oklahoma, and two Kansas City, Missouri police officers – William J. Grooms and Frank E. Hermanson. Execution Date : October 7, 1938 Noted Details : None mentioned. Last Meal : Same meal as MSP staff: eggs, steak, potatoes, eggplant, corn, pineapple, cookies and cake. Age : 24 Crime : Convicted of kidnapping and murdering Dr. J.C.B. Davis of Springs, Missouri on January 26, 1937. The crime was committed in an attempt to obtain $5,000 so Kenyon could marry his sweetheart, Opel Welch. Execution Date : April 28, 1939 Noted Details : Kenyon was baptized at Missouri State Penitentiary on April 26, 1938. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 25 Crime : Convicted of killing Vivion Davidson, his childhood sweetheart, on June 8, 1938, as she sat in an automobile near the home of relatives in St. Louis County. Execution Date : September 20, 1940 Noted Details : West helped to quarry the stone which was used to build the Missouri State Penitentiary gas chamber. He died in the gas chamber with Chester Jackson. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 37 Crime : Convicted of murder. Execution Date : April 24, 1942 Noted Details : Tyler hummed quiet snatches of the ballad “Frankie & Johnnie” while doctors from St. Louis Washington University strapped microphones to his chest so they could hear him die. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 20 Crime : Convicted of raping and killing a female in Wellston (St. Louis County), Missouri in January of 1944 after holding her at knifepoint. Execution Date : October 19, 1944 Noted Details : None mentioned. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 24 Crime : Convicted of killing Martin Twillman, a farmer from St. Louis County, Missouri in 1941 as he attempted to steal his truck. Execution Date : November 16, 1945 Noted Details : Talbert acted in concert with Leo Lyles, Lee Butler, and Willie Clayton. Lyles was executed on May 25, 1945. Butler and Clayton received life sentences. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 37 Crime : Convicted of the brutal robbery and homicide of Mary Santo, age 56, of Potosi, Missouri. She was beaten and burned to death on December 12, 1943. Execution Date : August 16, 1946 Noted Details : Sanford was executed with a codefendant, Fred Ellis. The two obtained only $5 in the robbery. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 59 Crime : Convicted of the brutal rape of 13-year-old Gladys Jeffries as she was going home from a movie on June 2, 1945. Execution Date : January 24, 1947 Noted Details : Perkins’ trial made legal history when the Missouri Supreme Court upheld for the first time the use of a recorded verbal confession in circuit court. Perkins served two previous sentences for assault with intent to kill. He also served time in Kansas, Michigan and Illinois. Last Meal : Fried chicken, cream gravy, french fries, peas, hot biscuits, jelly, peach pie, milk and coffee. Age : 49 Crime : Convicted of killing his wife, Verla Scott, by shooting her with a rifle on March 29, 1948 in Mountain Grove, Missouri. Execution Date : November 4, 1949 Noted Details : Before killing his wife, he shot and killed Circuit Judge Charles H. Jackson of Mountain Grove, Missouri. Scott thought the two were having an affair. Last Meal : Declined a special meal stating, “the regular food here is good enough for me.” Age : 56 Crime : Convicted of shooting and killing Fred Matchett and Mr. & Mrs. Delbert Matchett in St. Joseph, Missouri on October 25, 1945. Execution Date : May 19th, 1950 Noted Details : Tiedt’s execution was the first death sentence to be carried out from Buchannan County, Missouri since 1909. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 29 Crime : Convicted of leaving MSP as a trustee on August 9, 1952 and becoming intoxicated. He went to Bella Vista Apartments on East Capitol Avenue in Jefferson City, Missouri where he brutally beat and raped 70-year-old Mrs. Belle Agee. Execution Date : October 28, 1952 Noted Details : Porter signed a confession. Cole County District Judge Sam E. Blair, who gave him the death sentence, was a witness to his execution. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age:  23 Crime : Convicted of shooting and killing Sam Barenfeld during an armed robbery on January 13, 1951. Only $40 was obtained in the robbery. Execution Date : July 10, 1953 Noted Details : Mrs. Barenfeld and a young grocery attendant identified Boyd as the killer. A bal­listics test proved that the fatal bullet came from his firearm. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 34 Crime : Convicted of the kidnapping and murder of Bobby Greenlease. Heady and Carl Austin Hall demanded $600K in ransom, at the time the largest ransom in the history of the nation, which was paid. Unknown to the family, Heady and Hall had already killed and buried Bobby soon after the abduction. Execution Date : December 18, 1953 Noted Details : The judge who sentenced Heady and Hall called it the “most cold-blooded, brutal murder” he had ever tried. They were executed side-by-side. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 31 Crime : Convicted of the brutal slaying of Mrs. Wilma Allen, age 34, on August 4, 1955. Execution Date : February 24, 1956 Noted Details : Brown had a long history of crime dating back to age 15. He had three burglary convictions, one arson, and one auto theft. At the time of his execution, he was wanted in Wyoming for shooting Sheriff Willard Marshall of Sheridan County. Last Meal : Same meal as MSP staff: soup, crackers, fried beef steak, french fries, buttered noodles, spinach, biscuits, coffee, milk and cookies. Age : 26 Crime : Convicted of killing police officer Herbert Goss while involved in a crime spree across the country. Execution Date : July 26, 1963 Noted Details : Tucker had a partner, Douglas Thompson, who was caught one week after Officer Goss was killed. Thompson was apprehended after killing a bystander and wounding a MO State Patrol Officer. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 34 Crime : Convicted of luring an eight-year-old girl from a church picnic in Troy, Missouri and brutally raping her. The crime occurred three days after Wolfe was released from the Federal Prison in Atlanta, Georgia. Execution Date : May 8, 1964 Noted Details : Wolfe is buried in Longview Cemetery in Jefferson City, Missouri. Last Meal : None mentioned. Age : 44 Crime : Convicted for the rape and murder of 22-year-old Karen Keeton in Belton, Missouri. At the time of the murder, Mercer had a charge against him of raping a 17-year-old girl. Execution Date : January 6, 1989 Noted Details : “Tiny” Mercer became the first person to be executed in Missouri since 1965. His execution was carried out in the former gas chamber, which was converted to use lethal injection. Last Meal : None mentioned. #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Infamous Inmates URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/infamous-inmates/ # Infamous Inmates of the Missouri State Penitentiary #### Infamous Inmates ## Notorious Prisoners of the MSP A former Union General, the first train robber, 1930s gangsters, world champion athletes, and the assassin that killed Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. all came through the gates of the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) as inmates. Some left MSP for successful careers in the arts, sports, and even state government; others chose a life of more crime. #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Riot of 1954 URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/1954-riot/ # The 1954 Riot at Missouri State Penitentiary #### Riot of 1954 ## The Infamous Riot in Jefferson City, MO During the years of 1953 and 1954 there had been a rash of prison riots across the United States. Many feared the Missouri system was ripe for an outbreak as well. The potential for riot became a popular topic of conversation which the Missouri Highway Patrol took very seriously, drafting a plan and training officers how to respond to such an event. The advance preparation would come in handy before long.It was Wednesday evening, September 22, around 6:30, when two inmates feigned illness to attract the attention of two guards. When the guards entered the hall to investigate, they were overpowered and their keys were stolen. One of the guards was beaten severely. The two convicts then bolted out of their cell and ran along the cellblock, releasing others as they went. Soon a large group of inmates was running loose, racing around the compound and emptying other cellblocks along their path. One group of inmates entered the dining hall, smashing windows and chairs. In the prison shops, anything flammable was set afire.Missouri Highway Patrolman Walter Wilson was eating dinner in his patrol car when he heard an urgent message come over his radio; “Proceed to Jefferson City at once, prison riot in progress!” Obeying the riot plan procedures, he immediately headed towards Jefferson City. Simultaneously, other patrolmen from all over the state turned their cars toward the capital city as well. By midnight, more highway patrol troopers, Kansas City and St. Louis police, national guardsmen and local police had surrounded the prison. Inside, several hundred convicts were running, shouting and throwing bricks and chunks of concrete at the deputy warden’s office. Four buildings were fully ablaze and more fires were being started. Soon, nearly 2,500 rioters were on the loose inside the walls. In this chaotic nightmare of activity, one inmate in solitary confinement was tortured and murdered by other prisoners.Trooper Wilson and the other highway patrolmen continued their vigil throughout the night, as the law enforcement groups tried to prevent a mass breakout: “As waves of rioters stormed the deputy warden’s office, armed troopers on the roof were finally forced to open fire with machine guns and riot guns to force the desperate prisoners to flee the prison yard. Several convicts were injured by gun fire,” Wilson later wrote.Confronted with that mighty show of firepower, the inmates were finally forced back and most scattered to take cover wherever they could. Officers finally gained control, flushing out small groups of men and subduing the group of ringleaders. Another 300 prisoners were still barricaded in B and C cellblocks, cornered but not ready to surrender. The law enforcement officers left them alone and retreated, while in the warden’s office a meeting was held to decide how to handle the situation. The assembled members of the press were told that no attempt to secure the cellblocks would take place that night. Governor Phil Donnelley, Lt. Governor James Blair, Director of Penal Institutions Thomas Whitecotton, Warden Ralph Eidson and Highway Patrol Superintendent Hugh Waggoner had been at the riot scene since it began and were growing weary. At last they announced that all troopers were to meet at 7:00 the next morning, when they would be given instructions on how to enter the building. It was a sleepless night for the law enforcement teams.245 troopers attended the next morning’s meeting. 18 men were chosen to lead the way into the cellblocks where the cornered rioters were in a forbidding four story white stone building. Trooper Wilson was one of those 18 selected. 100 St. Louis police officers and the remaining troops would stand outside the prison yard as a second wall of defense. These officers were also to process the 300 convicts, if and when they were taken captive. Wilson writes that this moment was the crucial one, when all of his training as a trooper would be put to the test: “It was a tense moment and anything could happen:   we were heavily armed with riot guns and submachine guns as we entered the massive building. The inmates inside were shouting, cursing and throwing articles of bedding, furniture and personal belongings. All the windows had been broken out. As we entered the door we were greeted by flying debris. A 50-lb cake of ice pushed from a tier above barely missed my head. As we plunged through the hallway, wading in four inches of water I noticed to my left that the water in front of one cell was crimson red. Red with the blood of one of the wounded convicts who had been stabbed earlier by a fellow inmate. Over the loud speaker, the convicts were ordered to get into the nearest cell and be quiet or they would be shot. One inmate ignored the order, leering and shouting. Without hesitation, one of the troopers raised his weapon and shot the troublemaker dead. At that, an eerie silence fell in the huge building. The convicts retreated into the nearest cells as instructed and the troopers slammed shut and locked the doors behind them. Up to nine prisoners were crammed into the tiny cells. When all were safely locked away, an all-clear whistle sounded. Then, one cell at a time, the men were strip searched, taken out into the yard and processed by the waiting officers. They were returned to their proper cells. It took until mid-afternoon to finish the job.” When the riot was all over, four inmates had been killed, 50 injured and one attempted suicide. Four officers had been injured. Burned out hulks of several buildings lay smoldering. Damage was estimated to be as high as $5 million dollars. Not one prisoner had succeeded in escaping the prison. No attempt was made to serve breakfast to the prisoners the next day. Instead, they remained locked in their cells and sandwiches were handed out. The evening meal, usually served at 4:30, was served at 3:00. Small groups of convicts, with hands clasped behind their heads, were marched to the dining hall. 85 troopers stood with weapons ready to prevent further violence. It was later reported that the majority of the black inmates had not participated in the riot and had remained in their cells throughout the ruckus. A schoolteacher at the prison gratefully credited two of his convict students with saving his life during the uprising.The day after the riot, Governor Donnelly ordered a massive shakedown of the entire prison. 100 St. Louis policemen joined with prison guards to search every corner of the giant Penitentiary for knives, homemade weapons and other contraband. The search revealed an enormous arsenal of weaponry: sledgehammers, axe handles, screwdrivers, scissors, files and pieces of heavy machinery filed down to sharp, deadly points. Two days after the riot, Governor Donnelly grimly toured the ruined areas inside the prison. When he emerged, he announced that convening a special legislative session would probably not be necessary, as he felt repairs could be made with funds already on hand. Meanwhile, the prisoners were complaining to the press that one of the major causes of the riot had been dissatisfaction with the newly appointed Parole Board. Three members had been appointed just weeks before the riot, and all were former members of the Highway Patrol. The inmates claimed that these former cops, as they referred to them, would not be impartial when the time came for parole consideration. During a press conference held the Monday following the riot, a reporter asked Governor Donnelly if he planned any changes in the Parole Board as a result of the prisoners’ complaints. “No sir,” Donnelly replied irritably, “I’m not going to let a bunch of convicts tell me what to do.” #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Timeline URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/timeline/ # Historical Timeline of the Missouri State Penitentiary #### Timeline ## A Chronology of Jefferson City's Infamous Prison In 1831 Jefferson City’s hold on the capital city status was a tenuous one. To ensure that it remained the seat of government, Governor John Miller suggested a prison be built in Jefferson City. Construction began in 1834 and the first inmate arrived in 1836. From then on the prison became famous for being one of the most efficient in the country…and infamous for its  notorious inmates  and the  1954 riot  on its grounds. ### History of the MSP Want to learn more about the MSP? Just click on the photos in the slideshow below to find out the history of the Missouri State Penitentiary! #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Women in Prison URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/women-in-prison/ # Women in the Missouri State Penitentiary ## Women Inmates of the MSP From the earliest days there was a need to isolate the female convicts that came to the Missouri State Penitentiary. Unfortunately, there was little provision for their incarceration. A number of female federal prisoners were sent to MSP because there were no federal facilities for women at the time. Their crimes were, in many cases, violations of immigration, naturalization or conspiracy laws, which coincided with the heightened fears during WWI.In May of 1842, the first female convict was sent to the Penitentiary. Amelia Eddy from St. Louis County was given a two-year sentence for grand larceny. She would not serve her sentence; however, within only a few days of arriving she was pardoned and released because of the lack of adequate facilities for her. To this point, no real effort had been made to arrange for the housing of women convicted of crimes. Prior to 1861, a separate facility housed female prisoners. The stone structure rose two stories; the first serving as a warehouse, and the upper floor holding seven rooms suitable for four prisoners each, a dining hall, matron’s room, hospital and workroom. By 1864, these quarters grew insufficient for the number of women then confined, and the warden suggested building a new cellblock suitable for 50 female prisoners. He also felt that the best action was to completely remove the women prisoners to a separate location.In the early 1890s, nearly 60 women lived at the Penitentiary. Female inmates, upon arrival, were issued vertically striped calico dresses. They were housed in a 78-cell dormitory, built in 1876, separated from the men’s quarters by a 20-foot stone wall. Some of the females had quite notorious reputations for committing cold-blooded murders. Still, women were rarely incarcerated. While the Missouri State Penitentiary was the second largest in the nation, the population of fewer than 60 female inmates was a small number.Two famous activists, Emma Goldman & Kate Richards O’Hare, left their mark on the Missouri State Penitentiary, just as it did on them. It’s impossible to measure what impact their residency in the capital city had on the local community at that time. Surely they, and their views, were excitedly discussed and debated in some of the business and social circles.In 1926, 64 women prisoners were moved to Prison Farm No. 1, located a few blocks east of the Penitentiary. The women would no longer work in the factories as they had previously done, but would work outdoors as much as possible, gardening and raising hogs and chickens on the 15-acre tract. The women were housed in a rambling mansion that had been built by General James L. Minor as a plantation home nearly 75 years before. It sat on a hill with a commanding view of the Missouri River and Jefferson City and was a vast improvement over the gray, dingy halls the women had known in the men’s Penitentiary. The women at Farm No. 1, which had become incredibly crowded over the years, were finally moved to their new home in Tipton, Missouri in early 1960 where they were housed four to a dormitory-style room, or sometimes only one or two to a room. The women enjoyed a few recreational activities; badminton, volleyball and even a swimming pool. Their families were allowed to visit and bring in a picnic lunch. #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## History Tours URL: https://missouripentours.com/history-tours/ # History Tours With the history tours at Missouri State Penitentiary, you’ll truly feel the history! Our history tours will immerse you in the prison’s past with fascinating stories about the dangerous inmates that walked its halls and changed the prison system in the United States. On one of our tours, a former inmate will even relate what the penitentiary was like from the perspective of one incarcerated in its cells. Our private and student tours are also a great way to have a more intimate experience of the MSP. Choose your tour below! #### 5 and under are not permitted ## 2-Hour History Tour Step back in time and discover the intriguing history of the infamous Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided tour! Hear about escape attempts, riots, female inmates, and more. Book Now Learn More #### 9 and under are not permitted ## 3-Hour In-Depth History Tour Learn the fascinating history and tales of Missouri’s most notorious state penitentiary with this in-depth three-hour tour that covers more details than the two-hour tour. Book Now Learn More #### 9 and under are not permitted ## 3-Hour Former Inmate Tour Learn about the Missouri State Penitentiary from a unique angle on this tour that includes a Q&A with a former inmate! Discover how the inmates spent their days within the walls. Book Now Learn More #### 5 and under are not permitted ## Private 2-Hour History Tour Discover Jefferson City’s lawless past with a private tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Perfect for groups of 25 or more, this private tour includes everything you want to know. Call to Book Learn More #### 9 and under are not permitted ## Private 3-Hour In-Depth History Tour Explore the Missouri State Penitentiary with a group of 25 or more on this private experience that goes more in-depth than the private two-hour tour of the facility. Call to Book Learn More #### Ages 5 or 10 years old ## Private Student History Tour Bring your students to learn the fascinating history of Jefferson City’s most notorious penitentiary! This private tour is perfect for student groups and includes age-appropriate content. Call to Book Learn More #### Ages 12+ ## Private Photography Tours Grab your camera and photography equipment and snap great shots of the Missouri State Penitentiary on this private photography tour. Call to Book Learn More ## Inside the Experience Real guest reviews from visitors who have walked the cellblocks, explored the prison’s history, and experienced its darker side firsthand. --- ## Lodging URL: https://missouripentours.com/lodging/ # Lodging in Jefferson City, MO ## Find a Place to Stay Near the MSP Looking for a place to stay near the Missouri State Penitentiary before your tour? Choose from a variety of hotel accommodations and campgrounds! ### Hotels Hotel properties ### Vacation Rentals Short term vacation rentals ### Camping Campgrounds and RV parks #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Media URL: https://missouripentours.com/media/ # Missouri State Penitentiary Media Gallery ## Historical Photos of MSP ## Life at MSP ## Before Decommissioning ## After Decommissioning ## Riot of 1954 ## Aerial Photos ## Video Gallery --- ## Stories From Inside The Walls URL: https://missouripentours.com/share-your-story/ # Stories From Inside The Walls ## Stories The Missouri State Penitentiary was once the oldest prison west of the Mississippi River. Operating from 1836-2004, it is rare for a landmark to have a 168-year historic timeline with people still living to tell its stories. Although there are many who are no longer with us, their stories have been passed down to their relatives and friends. The “Stories From Inside the Walls” program aims to collect and share the narratives of individuals about the decommissioned Missouri State Penitentiary. The stories shared within this program are provided voluntarily by former inmates, former staff members, and the public. #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us --- ## Student Tours URL: https://missouripentours.com/student-tours/ # Student Tours Bring your students to learn the fascinating (or frightening) history of Jefferson City’s most notorious penitentiary! These private tours are perfect for student groups and includes age-appropriate content. #### Ages 5 or 10 years old ## Private Student History Tour Bring your students to learn the fascinating history of Jefferson City’s most notorious penitentiary! This private tour is perfect for student groups and includes age-appropriate content. Call to Book Learn More #### Ages 12+ ## Private Student Ghost Tour Give your students a lesson in fright with this ghost tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Content is age appropriate and includes state history and MSP facts and details. Call to Book Learn More ## Inside the Experience Real guest reviews from visitors who have walked the cellblocks, explored the prison’s history, and experienced its darker side firsthand. --- ## Museum URL: https://missouripentours.com/history/museum/ # Missouri State Penitentiary Museum #### Museum ## Continue Your Journey into Missouri's Past In conjunction with the Missouri State Penitentiary tours, the museum provides additional historical information about the famous prison that operated for 168 years. The museum houses MSP memorabilia as well as a replica cell that demonstrates the living conditions at the prison. Visitors can view the many displays that provide information on prison industries, contract labor/private industries, life inside the walls and control/counter-control as well as items on loan from former Deputy Warden Mark Schreiber. Please make reservations for groups of 10 or more. The museum is located in the lower level of the Col. Darwin W. Marmaduke House at 700 E. Capitol Avenue. Admission is $2 per person (or free with the purchase of a prison tour). Museum Hours of Operation: Monday - Friday 10:00 am – 4:00 pm Saturday 10:00 a.m - 3:00 pm #### Prison Tours ## Missouri State Penitentiary Tours in Jefferson City, MO View FAQs Contact Us ---