The Wyoming State Penitentiary. 1901 - 1981
Page by Bob Leathers
The Wyoming State Penitentiary. Rawlins, Wyoming. 2024 (Image by Bob Leathers)
The only way to see the inside of the Old Pen is a tour. Tours are available daily on the half hour. Tour prices are adult $12.00. Senior $10.00. Children free.
The Wyoming State Penitentiary - 1901-1981
In anticipation of statehood, funds for the first State Penitentiary were appropriated by the Territorial Legislature in 1886. The facility's cornerstone was laid in 1888, but due to difficulties with weather and funding, construction was not completed until 1901.
The first inmates were received from the Territorial Prison in Laramie on a cold December day in 1901. The original cell block (Cell Block A) had no electricity, running water, and inadequate heating. Inmates were required to work and were responsible for many day-to-day tasks, including the production of goods in the prison's factory.
Despite numerous additions to the facility, including Cell Block B (1950), the Cafeteria and Kitchen (1916 & 1950), the Death House (1916), and Cell Block C (1966), overcrowding persisted. The facility closed in 1981. Over 13,500 inmates were housed here over the 80 years of operation. (Wyoming State Penitentiary)
An interesting not about the Pen. The Pen was leased to a person to run. The first lessee of the Pen Otto GrammThe first madatory work in the Pen was broom making.
at that time the prison was run on the lease system. the place was leased about on the same plan as one would rent a farm or other property. a man named Graham had the penitentiary under a lease contract at the time of which i write. he paid the state so much per head per month or by the year for the use of the convicts. and he paid the expense of running the place, hired his own warden and guards. the state didnt have much to do with it. the prisoner was therefor at the mercy of graham. he owned the prisoner to the same extent that one owns a dog or a horse. he regarded his human charges as of being of less value than a horse, inasmuch as there was no first cost connected with this propisition, at least it never cost him anything to secure all the convicts he wanted. the prisoners were employed in the manufacture of brooms. the shop was run by Scoville Brothers of Ogden Utah. this factory no doubt yielded a handsome profit to the operators as well as Mr Graham. the broom shop being the chief source of revenue it was therefore the aim of the management to use every available man at this work. (The Sweet Smell of Sagebrush by Anonymous Prisoner)