Built in 1870, the Old Idaho Penitentiary is one of only four territorial prisons open to the public today. During its 101 years of operation, the site saw escapes, scandals, and the effects of Boise’s transition from the “wild west” to a mid-20th century capital city.

The Idaho State Historical Society (ISHS) preserves and promotes Idaho’s history through a system of cultural and historical resources. One of these resources is the Old Idaho Penitentiary, which connects modern Idaho to its territorial roots. The site has many buildings and facilities that were built by the prisoners themselves, such as cell houses, punishment cells, workspaces, administrative buildings, recreational facilities, and a rose garden. All of these are surrounded by sandstone walls near Table Rock. The site invites visitors to join the national conversation about the role of prisons in American democracy and the meaning of justice in Idaho’s past and present.