When you’re driving down Main Street in Deer Lodge, it won’t be long before you come across an ominous brick building surrounded by a prison wall. While it might still look intimidating, this building now houses one of the coolest museum complexes in Montana. And if you’ve never been to the Old Montana Prison Complex, you really should come for a history lesson.

The Old Montana Prison Complex is located at 1105 Main Street in Deer Lodge.
The prison was built by convict labor in the late 1800s, and it was open for "business" until 1979.
Step inside and you'll get a firsthand look at what life was like for the prisoners back then.
Manoau2002 / TripAdvisor
From the courtyard where the convicts exercised to the cafeteria where they ate their meals, you can see it all.
busymothertoronto / TripAdvisor

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If you get a little creeped out while you're touring the prison, it's probably not just your imagination.
coquiOmaha / TripAdvisor
The prison is known to be quite haunted. There was a deadly riot in 1959, and it seems some of the prisoners never left... and they're still a little angry.
But a haunted prison isn't all you'll see here. In fact, this complex contains five separate museum displays.
coquiOmaha / TripAdvisor
Aside from the old prison, you'll be able to see Frontier Montana (pictured here), the Montana Auto Museum, Yesterday's Playthings, and the Powell County Museum.
The Montana Auto Museum is worth the price of admission for any car enthusiast.
busymothertoronto / TripAdvisor
Once listed as a "USA Today" top ten must see car museum, it's full of vehicles from the 1890s through the 1980s.
Speaking of admission, the cost of a museum membership is just $20 ($15 for seniors and students).
Aaron Hockley / Flickr
The price includes unlimited admission to all five museums, retail discounts, newsletter subscriptions, and more. Plus, you'll be supporting the preservation of local history.

This is definitely one of the coolest collections of museums in Montana. But if you want to see something a little more out-of-the-ordinary, check out these weird museums.

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