The Old Idaho Penitentiary is a division of the Idaho State Historical Society. The "Old Pen" opened as a territorial prison in 1872 & closed its doors in 1973. It is now open year-round for self-guided & guided tours. Call 208-334-2844 for more details.
NOTE: The Old Idaho Penitentiary will be CLOSED Thursday, November 23 for Thanksgiving Day.
The Idaho State Historical Society operates the Old Idaho Penitentiary and is an extraordinary system of cultural and historic resources comprised of the Idaho State Historical Museum, State Archives, State Historic Preservation Office, and Historic Sites Program. We seek to inspire, enrich and engage all Idahoans by leading the state in preserving, sharing, and using history and cultural resources relevant to today to inform and influence the future.
Note: Idaho's Merci Train is not currently on public display. Please call us at (208) 334-2844 with any questions regarding this artifact.
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