The prison still stands and many relics from the days of its operation are displayed in the museum. What first caught my attention on my first visit maybe a dozen years ago were pictures of the prisoners who were kept here. I thought about how miserable they must have been; locked away in a silent, barren and stinkin hot land. With the penetrating heat in this desert the cells must have been baking.
The prison lasted for just 33 years from 1876 to 1909, but served it’s purpose as a territorial prison. It became outdated because it couldn’t be expanded, so the prisoners were all moved elsewhere. Strange beginnings of the prison; it was built by prisoners with a mix of adobe and wrought-iron. The prison looks like it sprang up from the earth. The hill is called Prison Hill. The Colorado River is a stones throw away. Each time I visit I see people wading into the river to cool themselves. Rather impromptu.
During its run, the prison held over 3,000 prisoners of which 111 died of various illnesses or were hung or shot while escaping. Being a prisoner was punishment enough but if that wasn’t enough there was the Dark Cell. You can enter it and imagine staying there with the door closed. If that was the case you probably couldn’t see your hand in front of your face. The prison had guard towers and a walled courtyard.
There are pictures in the museum of hangings. One of the most famous prisoner was a female. She was the first female prison to be kept there and here name was Pearl Hart. She was also the first female to rob a stagecoach. She palled with her boyfriend and really played up the tough act. They say when she finally got taken away and separated from him she turned into a lady. Shows you what bad company can do. They may have faked pregnancy to get out of there. Just as well because she did alright afterwards.
Photograph 1 - Entrance into the prison.
Photograph 2 - The main cell block.
Photograph 3 - Typical cell with two bunks.
Photograph 4 - Iron ring for chaining prisoners.
Photography 5 - The library.
Photograph 6 - Bunk mate - doing 15 years for assault with intent to commit murder.
Photograph 7 - Bunk mate - 37 year old druggist doing 35 years for counterfeiting.
Photograph 8 - Another cell block. Notice the granite rocks. These were quarried locally by prisoners. The prisoners built their future home.
Photograph 9 - Original wall of adobe. The walls were reinforced with metal supports.
Photograph 10 - Transportation. There is no explanation about this vehicle. It can only be assumed it was to transport prisoners. At least that's the assumption.
Photograph 11 - Typical single occupant cell.
Photograph 12 - The dark cell used for punishment. Pitch black inside.
Photograph 12 - Looking out from within.
Photograph 13 - A vent from which snakes and other critters would drop. The Dark Cell was a snake pit too.
Photograph 14 - Excersize yard.
Photograph 15 - Cells opposite the excersize yard.
Photograph 16 - The mult-bunk cell.
Photograph 17 - Grafitti on the walls. Some as recent as 1971 but also one from 1942.
Photograph 18 - Cell block.
Photograph 19 - Guard tower above the well.
Photograph 20 - While we were there, we interrupted an escape attempt.
Photograph 21 - We found at least one inhabitant quite cheerful despite the accomodations.
Photograph 22 - It was hard leaving some of the prisoners.
Photograph 23 - We caught this family watching a train cross over a trestle on the Colorado River.
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