Old Montana Prison and Frontier Museum

Lots to see at the old prison.  Deplorable living conditions, escapes, riots, and a fire resulted in two wardens murder and 2 hangings.  The prison was finally closed in 1979, replaced by one 3 miles west of town. 

Inside the compound

Turkey Pete was in for life.  Model prisoner who was entrusted with the prisons turkey flock, thereby earning him the name of Turkey Pete.  A prisoner for 47 years.  In his later years he supposedly went a bit daft and up anx sold the entire flock for 25 cents a piece, thereby gaining another distinction as the first entrepreneurial prisoner ever. On his death his cell #1 was memoralized and never used again.

Cells 4 stories high

 

Non computerized prisoner tracking device above.  Everyone given a name plate and their name was hung in the appropriate section.

Beneath the tunnels ran a labyrinth of tunnels used to spy on prisoner activities.  Supposedly haunted.

This is what's left of the

theater after a fire gutted it.  No prisoner was ever charged.  Inside is stored the traveling hanging stage.  Six prisoners were hanged from it.

Larry and Bill share the car museum previously so I'll keep my portion brief.

Also visited the Frontier Museum.

Lots of old stuff here.

Come back and visit our adventures again if ya can.