Missouri State Penitentiary
Missouri State Penitentiary
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About
The Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) opened in 1836 along the banks of the Missouri River in Jefferson City, Missouri. The prison housed inmates for 168 years and was the oldest continually operating prison west of the Mississippi until it decommissioned in 2004.The prison was already 100 years old when Alcatraz began taking inmates. The Jefferson City Convention & Visitors Bureau now offers tours at the site once named "The bloodiest 47 acres in America" by Time magazine. Visitors can choose to take a history or ghost Tour and will walk through three historic housing units, the vast upper yard of the property, and the gas chamber, where 40 men and women were executed. The tour also showcases cells of infamous inmates such as Sonny Liston, Pretty Boy Floyd, and Emma Goldman. Tour Season runs from March through November.
Jefferson City, Missouri
Awards
Travelers' Choice
2024
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Most Recent: Reviews ordered by most recent publish date in descending order.
Detailed Reviews: Reviews ordered by recency and descriptiveness of user-identified themes such as wait time, length of visit, general tips, and location information.
Popular mentions
5.0
1,565 reviews
Excellent
1,359
Very good
150
Average
26
Poor
16
Terrible
14
Edward K
Nevada, MO23 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
My wife and I were on the 1 pm Oct. 18th 2 hour history tour with a group of about 20 people. Larry Neal was our guide with his helper James. Both were former employees at this prison for about 26 years each. Larry was a Maintenance Supervisor and James an Officer. Larry has a booming voice and did most of the talking while James trailed behind us and answered questions. Both were very knowledgeable and informative. We enjoyed the tour, their knowledge of the prison's history, and the many tales they told of their experiences. Taking the tour also gave us access to the Museum across the street in the basement of what was the wardens house. That alone would have been worth the price of the tour. Its filled with information and artifacts relating to prison life and many things that prisoners created in their "spare time" along with a veritable who's who of famous prisoners.
Written October 22, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Safari59396115409
1 contribution
Aug 2023 • Family
My husband and I took the 2 hour history tour. Our guide, Larry, was fabulous. As a former MSP employee, he is quite knowledgeable about the prison and even wrote a book about it.
There is no electricity or running water so that means Porta Potty's for bathrooms. They were clean. We had to stay with the group but were allowed to walk around and take photos. We went to the dungeon and got to experience total darkness which was very cool. Larry gave plenty of warning before he turned off the light in case anyone didn't want to stay. For the final part of the tour you get back in your car and drive around the corner to the Gas Chamber. I'm glad we got to drive, it would have been a hike. No outside food or drink is allowed but you can buy bottled water for $1 in the gift store. Their prices are reasonable. I bought an ornament for $6. Tickets for the tour were $25 each. It was well worth the price of admission. We plan on going back for the ghost tour next year.
The one absolute rule they have is; DO NOT SHUT ANY DOORS. You could be trapped inside for hours.
Wear comfortable shoes because there is alot of walking and stairs.
Check out the MSP Museum across the street in the Warden's house before the tour. It's free if you buy a tour. Tickets can be purchased at the museum or online.
Thanks, Larry. You are an awesome tour guide!
There is no electricity or running water so that means Porta Potty's for bathrooms. They were clean. We had to stay with the group but were allowed to walk around and take photos. We went to the dungeon and got to experience total darkness which was very cool. Larry gave plenty of warning before he turned off the light in case anyone didn't want to stay. For the final part of the tour you get back in your car and drive around the corner to the Gas Chamber. I'm glad we got to drive, it would have been a hike. No outside food or drink is allowed but you can buy bottled water for $1 in the gift store. Their prices are reasonable. I bought an ornament for $6. Tickets for the tour were $25 each. It was well worth the price of admission. We plan on going back for the ghost tour next year.
The one absolute rule they have is; DO NOT SHUT ANY DOORS. You could be trapped inside for hours.
Wear comfortable shoes because there is alot of walking and stairs.
Check out the MSP Museum across the street in the Warden's house before the tour. It's free if you buy a tour. Tickets can be purchased at the museum or online.
Thanks, Larry. You are an awesome tour guide!
Written August 30, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Lindsay S
3 contributions
Nov 2024 • Couples
2 hour paranormal tour was interesting and fun. Reese was tour guide. She did a great job informing us of the history, experiences of others, and interacting with the crowd. Will go back for the history tour next spring.
Written November 9, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Samantha P
Green Bay, WI21 contributions
Sep 2024 • Couples
If you enjoy the paranormal, quirky and/or historic, this tour is for you! This tour has been on our bucket list for over a year and it did not disappoint! Randy and Fred were our tour guides and did a fantastic job painting a picture of penitentiary life and the history of the grounds and its inmates. Having toured Alcatraz in the past, I thought that was the prison tour to top all others. Boy was I wrong! Alcatraz was a Sunday school compared to this place.
During the time of our visit there was some demolition taking place on one of the buildings so part of our tour was unaccessible. This was building 3 which housed death row. That was a bummer, but we will for sure go back and take the tour again!
If you are an empath or are sensitive to places where terrible things happened, please be prepared for the heaviness that is the Missouri state penitentiary. The weight is heavy and, even in 90 degrees, there were cold spots. There were several times I felt very weary and wanted to cry. But there are stories to be heard about the lives that lived within the walls, so I listened.
Highly recommend!
During the time of our visit there was some demolition taking place on one of the buildings so part of our tour was unaccessible. This was building 3 which housed death row. That was a bummer, but we will for sure go back and take the tour again!
If you are an empath or are sensitive to places where terrible things happened, please be prepared for the heaviness that is the Missouri state penitentiary. The weight is heavy and, even in 90 degrees, there were cold spots. There were several times I felt very weary and wanted to cry. But there are stories to be heard about the lives that lived within the walls, so I listened.
Highly recommend!
Written September 23, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chelci R
Saint Charles, MO9 contributions
Oct 2024 • Couples
It was an incredible tour. Our guide was knowledgeable, and she did not rush us in any location even though it meant we were slightly behind schedule: the history was too important. She did a good job of painting a picture for us, setting the time frame within historical context of the Oregon Trail, Civil War, Alamo, etc. The history of it was so fascinating, we would do the tour a second time just to keep all the information straight and commit it to memory!
Written October 21, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
kdh78
Fort Gibson, OK103 contributions
Jun 2021
A fascinating place to visit. Sometimes a little eerie. We did the two hour history tour. Micheal our tour guide was fantastic! Very knowledgeable and had a good speaking voice. You were able to go into the jail cells and visit the gas chamber. Our son had recommended we visit MSP and it did not disappoint. I would however advise to visit in the spring or Fall as it was VERY hot in June and no AC. Would also recommend purchasing tickets ahead of time if visiting on a weekend as this seems to be a very popular attraction. The tour is 2 hours long and there is a lot of walking so wear comfortable walking shoes. Would very much like to do the paranormal tour sometime.
Written June 16, 2021
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Deborah H
Saint Louis, MO12 contributions
Sep 2023 • Family
My husband and I did the 3hr ghost hunt and are so ready to do the 8hr one. It was amazing. We experienced a lot of activity in the 3 buildings we were able to explore. We visited the musuem during the day to learn some of the history of the place. If you're a little hesitant, I would recommend starting with the day tour and work you're way to the night ghost hunts. We will definitely be back, hopefully more than once.
Written September 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
fischjess
Denver, CO3 contributions
Nov 2024 • Business
I did the haunted evening tour in mid-November, and it was absolutely worth every penny! Jenny was the BEST tour guide, offering so much fascinating information about the penitentiary. She clearly knows her stuff! She also managed to keep a large group on track so that we were able to see everything. And she stuck around late to answer everyone's questions. I would definitely recommend this tour!
Written November 18, 2024
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
dalilah
1 contribution
Jul 2023
It was an interesting tour. Groups definitely need to be smaller in size as you get bounced around in the crowd. Ended up in the back twice not by our choosing and could not hear a word being said. It should be a walking tour that spends more time moving so that you could actually take in more of the buildings and grounds without having to pay for a 3 hour tour, I don't believe you need that much time. Also building #4 is probably full of asbestos and people should be wearing mask for safety reasons. It was the best part of the tour. There are many books to be read after visiting this landmark, to get into detail about all of it. Do recommend but some consideration to the time spent talking instead of touring more
Written July 5, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Terry P
6 contributions
Jul 2023 • Family
Enjoyed the 2 hour tour. History and touring the grounds were great. Tour guide Michael and his assistant James were very knowledgeable of all aspects of the prison, in fact James worked as a guard for 12 years. I highly recommend the tour following up with free admission to the Museum.
Written July 23, 2023
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kaitlin L
West Plains, Missouri
How strenuous are the tours? Specifically the 2-3 hour history or ghost tours? My grandma wants to go but she does have a hard time walking/standing long distances. How many flights of stairs, and are they all back to back? Would it be possibly to bring and carry a folding chair if she decides to go so that she can stop and rest when we stop if needed?
Written June 17, 2024
Take him, he will enjoy the history. Not strenuous at all. He can stay on the ground floor and still see everything.
Written July 4, 2024
I want more details if you don't mind. My father was in during 1982. He completed his life in 1986 when I was 9 years of age. He said he would end his life before returning to prison and had broken his parole and was headed back when he completed the act. I am trying to find out the conditions and etc during the years he was there.
Written February 12, 2021
We do not have access to any Inmate Records - you would have to contact the Archives Dept. with the Missouri Department of Corrections.
Written July 5, 2021
You can only enter the property during a scheduled guided tour. You may visit our website com and select either the 2-hour History Tour or the 2-Hour Ghost Tour and you will see the schedule of tours for the remainder of November.
Written November 7, 2019
ekroner613
Osage Beach, Missouri
I know there is a minimum age listed on the ticket page, but my husband and I are vacationing with a 15 month old. Can she be brought in a carrier?
Written August 9, 2017
No, the minimum age is 10 years old, these are rules put in place by the State of Missouri (who owns the property) and our insurance company. You are more than welcome to come next door to the Missouri State Penitentiary Museum and look around there (no age limits).
Written August 16, 2017
cryan72
Chicago, Illinois
Are there places to sit along the way throughout the tour, or is it all 2 or 3 hours on your feet walking?
Written July 23, 2017
There is seating available in the first two housing units you visit as well as outside between the two housing units. There is no seating in the third housing unit or the gas chamber.
Written July 28, 2017
cryan72
Chicago, Illinois
Are there places to sit along the way or is it on your feet, walking the entire two hours?
Written July 23, 2017
Seated at first. Seats in the old prison, your choice to look around, or remain seated after the guide's talk. Also noticed some outside benches, that could be used to for a rest stop.
Written July 24, 2017
Hi Dan. I was thinking about taking this tour on Saturday, July 23, but the weather forecast is for 100 degrees. Would the trip be miserable and maybe I should wait until the fall? Or do you think it would be okay w/the heat? Thanks so much, M
Written July 18, 2016
What is the cost of admission for a senior adult? What are the open hours?
Written February 17, 2016
The cost for the 2-Hour History Tour is $15.00/person and the 3-Hour In-Depth History Tour is $26.
Written February 17, 2016
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