Old Idaho Penitentiary
Boise, ID
A sandstone prison that held inmates for about a century, now a museum with cell blocks, the old yard and exhibits on its history. Allow a couple of hours and bring a layer, as the stone buildings stay cool.
Construction of the prison in Boise began in 1870 and it took in its first prisoners in 1872; it closed in December 1973. A sandstone wall surrounds the complex, and the stones were quarried by convicts from nearby hills. More than 13,000 inmates were admitted, including about 215 women. Among the notable prisoners was Harry Orchard, who assassinated Governor Frank Steunenberg in 1905. The site includes several cell houses, a women’s ward built in 1920 and solitary-confinement areas such as “Siberia.”
Today the site is a state historic site run by the Idaho State Historical Society. Idaho’s Merci Train boxcar can be viewed by appointment (as of October 2026). Plan on about two hours and bring a jacket, as the stone buildings stay cool. The prison cemetery lies in the neighboring Idaho Botanical Garden and can be visited only with permission.
- Nearest town
- Boise, ID
- Category
- History & culture
- GPS
- 43.6000, -116.1660
Hours, fees and access change. Confirm with the operator or park before you go.
Good to know
Best time to go
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. Hot in July–August. Cold, short days in December–February. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)
Sources
Nearby
© Earth Science and Remote Sensing Unit, Lyndon B. Johnson Space Center · Public domainBruneau Dunes State Park
© Fredlyfish4 · CC BY-SA 4.0Redfish Lake
© WaterArchives.org from Sacramento, California, USA · CC BY-SA 2.0Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains
© photophat · CC BY 3.0Malad Gorge State Park
Campsites nearby
- Mountain View RV ParkMotorhome stopover3 mi from Old Idaho Penitentiary · 60 pitchesCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterToiletsDogs allowed
- Boise RV Travel ParkMotorhome stopover6 mi from Old Idaho Penitentiary · 53 pitchesCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Boise Riverside RV ParkMotorhome stopover7 mi from Old Idaho PenitentiaryTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Hi Valley RV ParkMotorhome stopover10 mi from Old Idaho Penitentiary · 192 pitchesCaravansMotorhomesElectricityShowersToiletsWaste disposalDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Boise / Meridian KOA JourneyMotorhome stopover12 mi from Old Idaho PenitentiaryTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowedWi-Fi
- Eagle Island RV CampgroundMotorhome stopover13 mi from Old Idaho Penitentiary · 50 pitchesTentsCaravansMotorhomesElectricityDrinking waterShowersToiletsDogs allowed
All campsites in Idaho · Campsite data: © OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL 1.0 · Updated October 3, 2026
FAQs
Where is Old Idaho Penitentiary?
Old Idaho Penitentiary is in Boise, ID, at GPS 43.6000, -116.1660. It is about 43 mi from Lowman.
Can you camp near Old Idaho Penitentiary?
Yes. The nearest campsite listed in OpenStreetMap is Mountain View RV Park, about 3 mi away; within 25 mi there are 17 campsites and motorhome stopovers.
What is there to see near Old Idaho Penitentiary?
Places worth a stop nearby: Bruneau Dunes State Park (53 mi), Redfish Lake (73 mi), Stanley and the Sawtooth Mountains (75 mi) and Malad Gorge State Park (83 mi).
When is the best time to visit Old Idaho Penitentiary?
The most pleasant months are usually May and September–October. Still fine, with some compromises, in April and June. (Estimate from long-term temperature averages, terrain and pass seasons)