A Tour Of This Haunted Prison In Missouri Is Not For The Faint Of Heart

No one in their right mind would want to land in prison. However, there's one prison that civilians willingly choose to visit, because this particular haunted prison tour in Missouri is legendary for how scary it is. After all, it's only a tour of what might easily be the most haunted place in Missouri, if not a top contender for most haunted in the country. Missouri State Penitentiary is one of the oldest prisons in the U.S. that still remains standing. Though it no longer imprisons criminals, the prison stays open for public tours (of both the living and the after-life kind).

The Missouri State Penitentiary opened in 1836 and at one point was nicknamed "The Bloodiest 47 Acres in America."

...yikes.

During its time open and operating, the prison was home to many high-profile convicts, including James Earl Ray, the man who murdered Martin Luther King, Jr.

In 1954, the prison experienced its largest riot instigated by inmates.

4 inmates were killed, 50 were injured, and one attempted suicide. It was estimated that damages to the prison ran as high as 5 million dollars which, in 1954, was more than a fortune.

Today, the prison hosts public tours, so you have the chance to get a glimpse of what prison life was like here.

There are both "normal" tours of the prison and "paranormal" tours available, and honestly, we recommend both!

During its prime, the cells of the prison were crammed even moreso than they are in modern prisons today.

You might even get claustrophobic when you visit, seeing as how up to six inmates sat crammed into single cells for most of the day, every day.

During other parts of the tour, you'll get to see where death row inmates were executed.

Right here, we have the gas chamber (we never said these tours were going to be pleasant).

It was recorded that 40 prisoners died in the gas chamber at Missouri State Penitentiary.

Could it be their spirits that still roam the halls and cells? We guess you'll have to find out.

Another form of the death penalty used at Missouri State was lethal injection.

In 1986, all forms of execution at Missouri State Penitentiary was ended. Remaining prisoners with death sentences were transferred out to a prison in Potosí to await their punishment.

Many people believe that the prison is haunted (definitely not just us!), which is no surprise, given the type of people that once roamed the halls and the countless deaths that have occurred here. In the video below, you'll see the first public paranormal investigation that took place at the old state prison, and it's downright fascinating:

What do you think? Are you brave enough to visit? If so, check out their website to learn more about their tours. Craving more creepiness in the state of Missouri? Check this article out for the ultimate haunted Missouri road trip!

What is the most haunted place you've ever visited? Have you been to this penitentiary yet? Tell us all about your experiences in the comments!

Address: 115 Lafayette Street, Jefferson City, Missouri, 65101