Old Idaho Penitentiary
Boise, Idaho, United States
Prison · established
The Story
Behind Boise’s sandstone prison walls are cellblocks, solitary-confinement spaces and stories of voices and unexplained touches. The state historic site allows ordinary visitors to walk through much of the former penitentiary; its ghosts are part of the place’s public folklore, not a replacement for its history.
The Hauntings
The Old Idaho Penitentiary has long outlived its original purpose. Its gates now open to visitors instead of closing behind new prisoners, and the weathered buildings reveal the changing ideas of punishment that shaped more than a century of incarceration. They also carry reports of strange voices, touches and persistent unease. The state historical society itself records those stories, naming particular rooms where visitors have described encounters. The stories of the people imprisoned here remain part of the place, alongside the mysteries of the cellblocks. Not every reported presence has a name. The Old Idaho Penitentiary’s own visitor information describes people hearing voices, feeling touched or experiencing a sense of weight and discomfort in particular parts of the prison. Two repeatedly mentioned locations are 'Siberia,' the isolation cells, and the Gallows Room in the maximum-security cellhouse. The site also records accounts of unusual images captured by visitors and paranormal investigation teams. Television productions and specialist groups have filmed and investigated here, adding a contemporary layer to the site’s haunting reputation. But these stories are best told as documented reports and experiences—not as a claim that every visitor will hear a prisoner or glimpse a shadow. The historical society also identifies a single man, Raymond Snowden, as the person executed in the Gallows Room. That specificity matters. Ghost-tour narratives sometimes inflate prison death tolls or blend unrelated executions together. The site’s own record narrows the account, allowing visitors to recognize a real historical setting without enlarging its tragedy for effect. There is plenty of atmosphere in the confinement spaces, the heavy doors and the silence between rooms.
The History
Construction began in 1870 when Idaho was still a territory. The institution opened in the early 1870s and remained in use for approximately 101 years, ultimately closing in 1973. New cellhouses, security practices and punishment spaces were added as the prison population and the state changed. Today the Idaho State Historical Society manages the former facility as an interpreted heritage site. The galleries and architecture offer an account of work, incarceration, escape attempts and institutional life across generations. Some original resident records and historical images are preserved at the Idaho State Archives. The site’s public interpretation rightly extends beyond its more sensational inmates and the stories that television programs have made famous.
A sense of place.
Visitor Experiences
Have you experienced something here?
This future chapter will bring together stories from the PHASM community. An unexpected encounter, a lingering feeling, or a quiet visit—your experience will be welcome.
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Sources & further reading.
Plan Your Visit
The Old Idaho Penitentiary is open for normal ticketed daytime visitation, with self-guided access during operating hours and guided tours offered subject to staffing. The official page includes photography rules and access information. Admission does not authorize after-hours investigation, staff-only entry or professional filming; special permits are handled separately by the operator.