No one in their right mind would want to land in prison. However, there’s one prison that civilians willingly choose to visit, because this particular haunted prison tour in Missouri is legendary for how scary it is. After all, it’s only a tour of what might easily be the most haunted place in Missouri, if not a top contender for most haunted in the country. Missouri State Penitentiary is one of the oldest prisons in the U.S. that still remains standing. Though it no longer imprisons criminals, the prison stays open for public tours (of both the living and the after-life kind).
The Missouri State Penitentiary opened in 1836 and at one point was nicknamed “The Bloodiest 47 Acres in America.”
Missouri State Penitentiary/Facebook …yikes.
During its time open and operating, the prison was home to many high-profile convicts, including James Earl Ray, the man who murdered Martin Luther King, Jr.
almahaffey/TripAdvisor
In 1954, the prison experienced its largest riot instigated by inmates.
Missouri State Penitentiary/Facebook 4 inmates were killed, 50 were injured, and one attempted suicide. It was estimated that damages to the prison ran as high as 5 million dollars which, in 1954, was more than a fortune.
Today, the prison hosts public tours, so you have the chance to get a glimpse of what prison life was like here.
Missouri State Penitentiary/Facebook There are both “normal” tours of the prison and “paranormal” tours available, and honestly, we recommend both!
During its prime, the cells of the prison were crammed even moreso than they are in modern prisons today.
almahaffey/TripAdvisor You might even get claustrophobic when you visit, seeing as how up to six inmates sat crammed into single cells for most of the day, every day.
During other parts of the tour, you’ll get to see where death row inmates were executed.
Missouri State Penitentiary/Facebook Right here, we have the gas chamber (we never said these tours were going to be pleasant).
It was recorded that 40 prisoners died in the gas chamber at Missouri State Penitentiary.
Missouri State Penitentiary/Facebook Could it be their spirits that still roam the halls and cells? We guess you’ll have to find out.
Another form of the death penalty used at Missouri State was lethal injection.
th0masm972/TripAdvisor In 1986, all forms of execution at Missouri State Penitentiary was ended. Remaining prisoners with death sentences were transferred out to a prison in Potosí to await their punishment.
Many people believe that the prison is haunted (definitely not just us!), which is no surprise, given the type of people that once roamed the halls and the countless deaths that have occurred here. In the video below, you’ll see the first public paranormal investigation that took place at the old state prison, and it’s downright fascinating:
Missouri State Penitentiary/Facebook
…yikes.
almahaffey/TripAdvisor
4 inmates were killed, 50 were injured, and one attempted suicide. It was estimated that damages to the prison ran as high as 5 million dollars which, in 1954, was more than a fortune.
There are both “normal” tours of the prison and “paranormal” tours available, and honestly, we recommend both!
You might even get claustrophobic when you visit, seeing as how up to six inmates sat crammed into single cells for most of the day, every day.
Right here, we have the gas chamber (we never said these tours were going to be pleasant).
Could it be their spirits that still roam the halls and cells? We guess you’ll have to find out.
th0masm972/TripAdvisor
In 1986, all forms of execution at Missouri State Penitentiary was ended. Remaining prisoners with death sentences were transferred out to a prison in Potosí to await their punishment.
What do you think? Are you brave enough to visit? If so, check out their website to learn more about their tours. Craving more creepiness in the state of Missouri? Check this article out for the ultimate haunted Missouri road trip!
What is the most haunted place you’ve ever visited? Have you been to this penitentiary yet? Tell us all about your experiences in the comments!
Address: 115 Lafayette Street, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65101
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Address: 115 Lafayette St, Jefferson City, MO 65101, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
Haunted Prison Tour in Missouri March 05, 2021 Tori Jane Is there a ghost tour in Missouri? There are several companies that conduct ghost tours in the great state of Missouri, including such organizations as St. Charles Ghost Tours, Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tours, and Sainte Genevieve Ghost Tours. Of course, there’s plenty more out there, but those three are the most commonly listed (and highest rated) that Missouri has to offer. Take each one and tell us which one was your favorite! What are some haunted places in Missouri? Missouri is one of the older states in the union, and as such, it’s got ample opportunities for the presence of the paranormal to make itself known. St. Louis alone seems full to the brim with spooky paranormal activity (Life Magazine once called it one of the 10 most haunted places in America, though small towns mustn’t be forgotten, either). For example, the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis offers up both interesting history (as it was built back in the 1860s) and some ridiculously spine-tingling ghost stories, while the Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs can’t be passed up by anyone looking for a scary night’s stay either. What are some scary things in Missouri? Missouri is full of creepy and scary things that’ll make you keep one eye open at all times! For example, we’ve got our fair share of some spooky ghost towns, creepy abandoned buildings and homes (why did they leave?), allegedly haunted schools, and so much more. We’ve even got haunted trails, like the fabled “Zombie Road”, which was supposedly built upon a Native American trail (and the spirits of the trail aren’t happy about that). Missouri is a ghost hunter’s paradise and we have no doubt that you’ll find plenty to be scared of out here! Check out this article for some of our favorite ideas for Missouri connoisseurs of fear to check out.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Haunted Prison Tour in Missouri
March 05, 2021
Tori Jane
Is there a ghost tour in Missouri? There are several companies that conduct ghost tours in the great state of Missouri, including such organizations as St. Charles Ghost Tours, Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tours, and Sainte Genevieve Ghost Tours. Of course, there’s plenty more out there, but those three are the most commonly listed (and highest rated) that Missouri has to offer. Take each one and tell us which one was your favorite! What are some haunted places in Missouri? Missouri is one of the older states in the union, and as such, it’s got ample opportunities for the presence of the paranormal to make itself known. St. Louis alone seems full to the brim with spooky paranormal activity (Life Magazine once called it one of the 10 most haunted places in America, though small towns mustn’t be forgotten, either). For example, the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis offers up both interesting history (as it was built back in the 1860s) and some ridiculously spine-tingling ghost stories, while the Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs can’t be passed up by anyone looking for a scary night’s stay either. What are some scary things in Missouri? Missouri is full of creepy and scary things that’ll make you keep one eye open at all times! For example, we’ve got our fair share of some spooky ghost towns, creepy abandoned buildings and homes (why did they leave?), allegedly haunted schools, and so much more. We’ve even got haunted trails, like the fabled “Zombie Road”, which was supposedly built upon a Native American trail (and the spirits of the trail aren’t happy about that). Missouri is a ghost hunter’s paradise and we have no doubt that you’ll find plenty to be scared of out here! Check out this article for some of our favorite ideas for Missouri connoisseurs of fear to check out.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There are several companies that conduct ghost tours in the great state of Missouri, including such organizations as St. Charles Ghost Tours, Haunted Hannibal Ghost Tours, and Sainte Genevieve Ghost Tours. Of course, there’s plenty more out there, but those three are the most commonly listed (and highest rated) that Missouri has to offer. Take each one and tell us which one was your favorite!
What are some haunted places in Missouri?
Missouri is one of the older states in the union, and as such, it’s got ample opportunities for the presence of the paranormal to make itself known. St. Louis alone seems full to the brim with spooky paranormal activity (Life Magazine once called it one of the 10 most haunted places in America, though small towns mustn’t be forgotten, either). For example, the Lemp Mansion in St. Louis offers up both interesting history (as it was built back in the 1860s) and some ridiculously spine-tingling ghost stories, while the Elms Hotel and Spa in Excelsior Springs can’t be passed up by anyone looking for a scary night’s stay either.
What are some scary things in Missouri?
Missouri is full of creepy and scary things that’ll make you keep one eye open at all times! For example, we’ve got our fair share of some spooky ghost towns, creepy abandoned buildings and homes (why did they leave?), allegedly haunted schools, and so much more. We’ve even got haunted trails, like the fabled “Zombie Road”, which was supposedly built upon a Native American trail (and the spirits of the trail aren’t happy about that). Missouri is a ghost hunter’s paradise and we have no doubt that you’ll find plenty to be scared of out here! Check out this article for some of our favorite ideas for Missouri connoisseurs of fear to check out.
