The Museum of Colorado Prisons
- 201 North First Street, Canon City
The rattle of chains is a real part of
the experience at the Museum of
Colorado Prisons in Canon City.
Started as the Territorial Correctional
Facility in 1871, the museum later
became the state’s first prison for
women. In 1968, the Colorado Women’s
Correction facility opened and the
prison was used for protective custody
inmates, inmate work gangs and prison
riot training for Colorado Department of
Corrections staff.
Until 1995, most of the state’s executions
occurred at the Territorial prison.
Hanging was used prior to 1932 and
the gas chamber was used until 1967.
Only one execution by lethal injection
was at the facility. According to museum
staff member Heather Newman, 38
executions occurred at the facility. She
added several paranormal investigation
teams have come to the museum and
have reported finding paranormal activity.
Visitors can see a gas chamber, the
hangman’s noose used in the last state
hanging, photographs, other historical
material and displays of art created by
inmates.
The museum also helps educate the
public about the history of Canon City.
From Memorial Day to Labor Day, the
museum offers weekend ghost walks
through historical downtown Canon
City. The cost is $9 for adults and $7 for
children, and tours run Friday through
Monday beginning at 6:30 p.m.
General daily admission for the
museum is $7 for adults, $5 for children
and members of the Colorado
Department of Corrections and $6 for
senior citizens 65 and older. The museum
is open during the summer seven
days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
and the rest of the year from 10 a.m. to
5 p.m.
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