Old Idaho Penitentiary.

While I was in Boise I had the opportunity to spend some time with a 'host family.' A host family is supposed to offer transportation around town, provide any pre arrainged meals and to provide you with some entertainment while you are in town and our host family did not disappoint! Three of us from the conference were paired with the same family and the highlight of our wanderings around Boise was a visit to the Old Idaho Penitentiary!

The penitentiary started out as a territorial prison with the first building being built in 1870. Over the course of its 100 years in use the Idaho Penitentiary housed more than 13,000 convicts - 215 of whom were women. They held their first execution in 1878 with the hanging of Tambiago, a Bannock Indian from Fort Hall and their last in 1957 with the hanging of Raymond Allen Snowden. Their youngest prisoner was a 10 year old boy, convicted of manslaughter and their oldest was an 81 year old man, convicted of stealing some horses. After two prison riots relating to the conditions of the prison, one in 1971 and the other in 1973, all the inmates were transferred to a new correctional facility south of Boise. The Old Idaho Penitentiary was officially closed in December 1973 and a year later was listed on the National Register for Historical Places.

Warden's Rose Garden, where the hangings were held.

Outside the the original Territorial Prison structure

Cell Block 2

Entrance to the Women's Ward - originally the Warden's house

A sign inside the women's cell block. I am sure it's nice to know your anonymity is guaranteed.

There were beautiful flowers over all the prison grounds - what else is there for prisoners to do but master horticulture.