Old Idaho Penitentiary Site

Category: History museum in Boise, Idaho

Address: 2445 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise, ID 83712, USA

Phone: +12083342844

Opening hours

Sunday: 12–5PM

Monday: 12–5PM

Tuesday: 12–5PM

Wednesday: 12–5PM

Thursday: 12–5PM

Friday: 12–5PM

Saturday: 12–5PM

Reviews

Bill Sherman

Oct 12, 2022

Very interesting gem to visit.

lawrence quevedo

Oct 11, 2022

You can see old pictures, and history of the penetentiary

Perry Wise

Oct 10, 2022

It was a very interesting place

Angela R. Hunt

Oct 9, 2022

Great history and gun museum

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Questions & Answers

How much does it cost to take a tour?

Loner4evR | Oct 12, 2017
Sage Mailhiot | Oct 12, 2017

Adults $6 :)

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Is it wheelchair friendly?

Hope Tatar | Oct 12, 2019
Orin Alexander | Oct 12, 2019

Yes, most of the building's are accessible with a chair, but moving along some of the gravel areas may be difficult. It's well worth the visit, I enjoyed the armory. Also the history was very enlightening about the area around Boise.

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How long does the tour take and is there plenty of benches for sitting for older people. One last questions are there alot of stairs?

Jill SLATER | Oct 12, 2019
Sabrina H | Oct 12, 2019

When I went I didn't take the tour, and it took about 1 1/2 hours. There are some stairs, but you don't have to use them if you don't want to. There aren't a lot of benches.

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Would LOVE to k ow where to write a review on the paranormal investigations.

T Bugs | Oct 12, 2019
Zack Anderson | Oct 12, 2019

Do it on Google we'd love to hear!

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Is the Old Pen open on Easter?

Cameryn Davis | Oct 12, 2018
Amber B | Oct 12, 2018

Easter is not a state holiday. They are open most state holidays with the exception of Christmas, Thanksgiving, New Year's Day, Fourth of July.

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can you take picture

Melissa Alley | Oct 12, 2017
Erin Twigg | Oct 12, 2017

Yes. Just no camera bags

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Do you have to pay to enter?

Shoto Todoroki | Oct 12, 2019
Jessica Earp | Oct 12, 2019

Yes but there are free guided tours included. The tour was really worthwhile as some of the buildings have rich histories.

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Is there places to sit if you can't walk far?

Joni Baxter | Oct 12, 2019
Norman Kahler | Oct 12, 2019

Yes the are a few places. You can even sit in some of the cells.

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What is the process for getting tickets?

Carroll English | Oct 12, 2019
John Gates | Oct 12, 2019

There is a counter/gift shop just inside the main entrance.

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Are they filming at the old penitentiary

Ray Cagle | Oct 12, 2019
Eat Drink World | Oct 12, 2019

It a paranormal activity style movie apparently

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What's the price for admission?

A Guillen | Oct 12, 2018
Nick Ward | Oct 12, 2018

$6 for adults.

Wut are the ages on kids?

Amber Kysar | Oct 12, 2018
Terry L-H | Oct 12, 2018

Admission Prices Regular Admission: Adult: $6 Senior (60 and older): $4 Child (6-12 years): $3 Children 5 and under: Free Children 12 and under must be accompanied by an adult. Group and AAA discounts available Free for Idaho State Historical Society

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Are masks still required to enter.

Sue Barrows | Mar 15, 2022
Jeff Wade | Mar 15, 2022

No

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I heard from a friend that they do an overnight session, and lock you in solitary confinement with an evp box. Is this something they do, and how much does it cost?

Kyle Call | Feb 13, 2022
Anthony Stewart | Feb 13, 2022

It is freezing in the buildings, colder than outside, so I wouldn't do this in the winter.

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Are we allowed to go in any of the cells? I’m just wondering because that would be cool

Xander Braden | Nov 15, 2021
Andrea Fuchs | Nov 15, 2021

No can't go in but you are so close to the cell u can see what's in.

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Is it true that the penitentiary is Haunted

Jenny Huffman | Oct 11, 2021
Waterboy | Oct 11, 2021

One of the staff members working there said there were unexplained occurrences that occur there. They have ghost tours.

Do you have any tickets for Oct 2

A Google User | Oct 11, 2020
Eric Z | Oct 11, 2020

It's a self guided tour, takes about 1.5hrs to complete.

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Is the tour running in October too?

Taunya Brown | Oct 11, 2020
Nicole Pillott | Oct 11, 2020

Yes, self tours only.

Are dogs allowed?

emily phillips | Oct 11, 2020
Elaine Lim | Oct 11, 2020

Dogs are officially not allowed. But they'll let you in if you tell them it's a service animal.

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Parking for big trucks?

James Alderson | Oct 11, 2020
Howard Queen | Oct 11, 2020

How big a truck?

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is it open on Labor day??

Leah Kim | Oct 12, 2019
Old Idaho Penitentiary Site | Oct 12, 2019

Yes! We are open from 10:00am-5:00pm today.

Can I take my 3 year old?

Allie Walcom | Oct 12, 2019
Michael Hanson | Oct 12, 2019

Yes you can take your 3 year old.

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Does this place offer ghost hunting tours? I've seen it on ghost adventures and I'm intrigued.

ThePUMPKIN2113 | Oct 12, 2019
Katie Santos | Oct 12, 2019

They offer paranormal investigations, check out their Facebook page for dates or their events. They sell out fast!

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Is the idaho State penitentiary really haunted??

Cj Tube | Oct 12, 2019
Raymond Hensley | Oct 12, 2019

They've had a lot of paranormal activity researchers say that it is; with how many people have died on the property it would be a surprise to me if it wasn't! Go check it out for yourself, worth the trip!!

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Is it open today?

juju 1470 | Oct 12, 2019
John Gordon | Oct 12, 2019

Not on major holidays

Is it opening tomorrow?

juju 1470 | Oct 12, 2019
Mtn Goat | Oct 12, 2019

Check their website.

Are there any tours at night or late evening for the public?

Iri Sanchez | Oct 12, 2019
Michael | Oct 12, 2019

They have some nighttime activities around Halloween. Otherwise, I believe the prison closes around...5pm, i believe.

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Is the penitentiary open today on Martin Luther KIng day?

blaine clemens | Oct 12, 2019
N B | Oct 12, 2019

on their website it says that they are open 7 days a week EXCEPT for major state holidays. Not sure if MLK is considered major, I would call them to be on safe side.

How long do the tours take?

Donna Pilkington | Oct 12, 2019
Tony Dixon | Oct 12, 2019

45 min to 2 hrs depends on how thural you want to explore.

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Do you guys close for the season?

Jaime Gerthung | Oct 12, 2019
Michael | Oct 12, 2019

I don't believe so. Great place to visit

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Why isn't New House in the Pennitentiary open to the public?

Makenzie Clark | Oct 12, 2019
Jack Hourcade | Oct 12, 2019

If you’re referring to the “New Cellhouse” or “One House” (built in 1890), there isn’t much to see inside. The cells were removed years ago, and it was then used as an indoor recreation areA.

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Is it cash only?

Orrin Anderson | Oct 12, 2019
Orrin Anderson | Oct 12, 2019

Cards are excepted, though the machines were down when I went.

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Do you guys now the prices by chance?

Sarayah Carter | Oct 12, 2019
Richard Strean | Oct 12, 2019

According to their website (October, 2018), "Regular admission is $6 for adults (ages 13+), $4 for seniors (ages 60+) and $3 for children (ages 6-12). Children under age 6 are eligible for free admission."

Is it available for over night type things?

Emma Snover | Oct 12, 2018
Katie Santos | Oct 12, 2019

They just did their first overnight stay with their event Sleepless in Stripes, it was a success so follow their Facebook page to look out for more next year.

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Do you do night tours and do you let ghost hunters in at night?

Kymburly Krautheim | Oct 12, 2018
Logan Fechner | Oct 11, 2021

Is it huanted

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Do you do night tours? Do you let ghost hunters in?

Kymburly Krautheim | Oct 12, 2018
Tiffiny Tornabeni | Oct 12, 2018

They told us they have a night tour on Halloween, possibly 1 in September also.

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Can you rent the building to do a private overnight investigation? How much would that cost?

Laureena Dean | Oct 12, 2018
Katie Santos | Oct 12, 2019

No they don't rent the building. They allow Big River Paranormal to host a investigation for you to join. They happen thought-out the year, we just finished our 2018 year but 2019 we will have more than. The cost is $35 a ticket, (18+ only) which can be purchased through browntickets.com when they become avaliable. All proceeds go to preserving the Old Idaho Pen. The tickets sell out usually days after they become available. So Follow Old Idaho Pen & Big River Paranormal to keep up to date on it.

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Is it open on Sundays

Brittany Gonzalez | Oct 12, 2018
Britini Spencer | Oct 12, 2018

Yes!

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Is it haunted?

Brittany Gonzalez | Oct 12, 2018
Doug Gonser | Oct 12, 2018

Yes

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When do the haunted night tours start?

Jessica Robinson | Oct 12, 2018
Jessica Robinson | Oct 12, 2018

Can I order tickets online for the haunted tours?

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Have you guys heard stories from other people about Ghosts in The old Idaho Penitentiary?

Gracie Ringering | Oct 12, 2018
Joseph Schultz | Oct 12, 2018

Yes. The old showers, cell block 2 and 5.

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When do they do the tours ? Or what do you need to do to get a tour ?

Evelyn Ortiz | Oct 12, 2018
DAVID GLIDDEN | Oct 12, 2018

Monday through Friday starting at 12:30 p.m. just go to the administration office to purchase a ticket. Parking is free. Check the website for additional information like weekend hours

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How many Deaths at Idaho State prison among inmates?

James Davis | Oct 12, 2018
Ashley Johnson | Oct 12, 2018

I believe 11 were executed on the property

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Can u take pet?

Cheyenne Matney | Oct 12, 2018
Julianne Taylor | Oct 12, 2018

Nope

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Is this a haunted tour

Wendy Rafferty | Oct 12, 2017
Rebecca Weiss | Oct 12, 2017

Only around Halloween do the do the haunted tour

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How long does it take to tour?

Josh Piatt | Oct 12, 2017
David Poole | Oct 12, 2017

Guide tour is 60 to 90 minutes if i remember correctly. Otherwise, can just walk around.

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Is it haunted?

Holli LayPort | Oct 12, 2017
Erick Bostrom | Oct 12, 2017

No only in the movies

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