Old Idaho Penitentiary

About

Old Idaho Penitentiary held Idaho's territorial and state prisoners from 1872 until 1973, and more than 13,000 people served time inside its walls. The Idaho State Historical Society now runs the property as a museum, and you walk the grounds and cell blocks on a self-guided route or join a staffed tour for an extra fee.

A visit covers roughly thirty original buildings, including cell houses, the solitary confinement wing known as Siberia, and the gallows used for the state's last executions. The J. Curtis Earl Memorial Exhibit displays historic firearms in a separate building on the same grounds. Most people spend one and a half to two hours walking the site, longer with the guided add-on or if you read every interpretive sign.

As of 2026, admission runs 9 dollars for adults, 7 dollars for seniors 60 and up, and 5 dollars for children 6 to 12; kids under 6 and current members get in free. A guided tour costs 2 dollars more, and self-guided tours run throughout the day. The site offers discounts through AAA, the Museums for All program for EBT cardholders, and the Blue Star Museums program for active duty military, plus student and veteran rates. Hours run noon to 5 p.m. in winter and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. from Memorial Day through Labor Day, with last admission at 4 p.m., and the site closes on major state holidays.

The penitentiary sits in the Boise foothills east of downtown, on Old Penitentiary Road. The Idaho Botanical Garden occupies the old prison farm next door, so the two pair well if you have a full day. Call ahead at 208-334-2844 for same-week hours or tour schedules before you drive out.

Accessibility

Old Idaho Penitentiary is accessible for most of a visit, but not all of it. Grounds and the ground floors of the cell houses are paved and level, while the upper tiers of two cell houses are reached only by a stairway, so anyone using a wheelchair or scooter will miss those rooms.

Entrance and getting around: the walkways connecting the buildings are paved throughout the site, and most of a self-guided route stays at ground level. A few spots in the yard have short flights of steps that you can walk around rather than through. Staff post photos of the upper-floor cell blocks for visitors who cannot climb the stairs to see them in person, so you do not miss that part of the story entirely.

Services: the site allows ADA-certified service animals. Beyond that, the historical society does not publish information on accessible parking, restrooms, wheelchair loans, sensory-friendly hours, or captioned or ASL-interpreted programming, so do not assume any of those are available.

Practical tips: wear sturdy, closed shoes, since the site's own trip-planning page notes uneven ground and stairs in places. Call the site at 208-334-2844 before you go if a specific room, restroom, or parking spot is a must for your trip, and ask which entrance and route staff recommend for a wheelchair or scooter that day.

Checked by Accessible America, August 2026. Report a change

More accessible places in Idaho

• Discovery Center of Idaho (Boise)
• World Center for Birds of Prey (Boise)
• Boise Towne Square (Boise)
• Idaho Botanical Garden (Boise)
• Ridge to Rivers Trail System (Boise)
• Bogus Basin Mountain Recreation Area (Boise)

Photo credits

• Stone castle-style facade of the Old Idaho Penitentiary with a tower and battlements.: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• The penitentiary's arched entrance has carved signage, glass doors, and a level sidewalk.: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)
• An overhead view shows the penitentiary's stone buildings, yard, and perimeter walls.: Tamanoeconomico, CC BY-SA 4.0 (source)