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Photo: CosmiCataclysm, CC BY-SA 3.0 via Wikimedia Commons
The longest operating prison west of the Mississippi, the MSP closed its doors in 2004. In 1954, overcrowding, the increasing violence of inmates and aging nature of the penitentiary climaxed into a three day riot. The National Guard was called in to suppress the rioting. When it was all over, four inmates were killed and millions of dollars of damage had been done. In 1963-64, there were 550 serious assaults inside the Missouri State Penitentiary, including hundreds of stabbings, which is why Time magazine called it the "bloodiest 47 acres in America". A few of the more famous prisoners include: Sonny Liston, James Earl Ray, and "Pretty Boy" Floyd. Decommissioned in 2004, it is now a museum offering tours of the prison focused on history, as well as specialty tours for photographers, ghost-hunters, and "paranormal investigators".
The Missouri State Penitentiary was a prison in Jefferson City, Missouri, that operated from 1836 to 2004. Part of the Missouri Department of Corrections, it served as the state of Missouri's primary maximum security institution. Before it closed, it was the oldest operating penal facility west of the Mississippi River. It was replaced by the Jefferson City Correctional Center, which opened on September 15, 2004. The penitentiary is now a tourist attraction, and guided tours are offered.
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Burials in Jefferson City National Cemetery date to summer 1861; its original purpose was for the burial of Civil War soldiers from the surrounding area. The site of the cemetery, which local residents Israel and Mary Read sold to the government, was surveyed for classification as a national cemetery during the war. However, its official designation did not occur until 1867, after the war and approximately 350 interments were completed. Jefferson City National Cemetery is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
You can encounter the roots of Missouri government and discover the charm and culture of the early political society at the Cole County Historical Society Museum. The building stands as a historical site, built by Governor B. Gratz Brown in 1871, and today it draws visitors as a tourist attraction. The museum has a collection of artifacts, antiques and historical documents. Notably, it is the only county museum in the country to own and display inaugural gowns of its state’s First Ladies.
The State’s first family invites you to tour their home to see its beautiful architecture and period furniture. Public tours of the first floor are conducted each Tuesday and Thursday from 10AM until noon and again at 1PM until 3PM, except during August and December. In December, Candlelight Tours are held on two evenings during the holiday season. Free Admission. Reservations required 24 hours in advance.
The area at the base of Jefferson Street, known as Jefferson’s Landing, was the site of the original river landing and the first area settled in the city. It is significant as a rare surviving Missouri River landing place. The structures in this historic site date back to 1839 making it the oldest riverfront landing on the Missouri River. As this site was later served by the railroad, several of Jefferson City’s largest businesses grew here.
Tours are given for free every hour from 9AM to 4PM. The Missouri State Museum is on the first floor of the Missouri State Capitol Building and managed by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources.Today, the museum continues to showcase Missouri’s diverse history and resources. The museum houses temporary and long-term exhibits.