Old Idaho Penitentiary

The Old Idaho Penitentiary is the sight most first-time visitors put at the top of a Boise list, and it earns the place. Built from local sandstone quarried by the inmates themselves, the prison took in its first prisoners in 1872, when Idaho was still a territory, and it kept operating for just over a century before closing in 1973. In that time it grew from a single cell house into a walled complex that held thousands of people, from horse thieves and bootleggers to a handful of famous names whose stories are told on the tour. Today it is a state historic site run by the Idaho State Historical Society, set on a quiet road at the foot of the foothills just east of downtown. A visit is part museum, part walk through a very particular piece of the American West. You pass through the yard and into cell houses where the bunks, bars and worn floors are still in place, and you can step into the old solitary confinement block, which is as grim as it sounds. Other areas cover the death row cells and the gallows, the women's ward, and the stories of the 1971 riot that helped hasten the prison's closure. Exhibits across the grounds also explore subjects such as the prison's work shops, its sandstone quarry and the lives of the guards and families who lived on site.

The site works well at your own pace. Most people follow a self-guided route with signs and exhibits, and guided and themed tours are offered at times, so it is worth checking the schedule before you arrive. Allow at least two hours if you like to read every placard, and wear comfortable shoes because the grounds include gravel paths, stairs and uneven floors.

Several buildings are unheated or only lightly heated, so a layer is welcome in winter, while summer afternoons can be hot in the exposed yard, which makes morning visits more pleasant. Some areas are less accessible than others because of the age of the buildings, so ask at the entrance if mobility is a concern.

The prison sits beside other things worth doing, which makes it easy to build a half day around it. The Idaho Botanical Garden shares the same road, the trailhead for the Table Rock hike is within a short walk or drive, and the Warm Springs Avenue neighborhood of historic homes is minutes away. Many visitors do the penitentiary in the morning, picnic in the garden or on the hillside, and walk Table Rock for sunset. Others pair it with the Basque Museum and a downtown dinner to get a rounded sense of the city's past.

Content is frank and not softened, which means younger children may find some rooms unsettling, though many families bring school-age kids and find the history gripping. Older teenagers usually enjoy it most. Photography is generally welcome, and the contrast between sandstone walls, blue sky and the green foothills makes for good pictures. If you love old buildings, the prison is also one of the better-preserved examples of its type in the region, and it rewards a slow look at details like carved names, painted murals and hand-cut stonework.

Check the hours before you go, since the site keeps seasonal schedules and may close on certain days. Admission is charged at the gate, and combination options with nearby sites are sometimes available, so ask when you buy tickets.