Missouri State Penitentiary

"Absolutely incredible tour of the oldest prison west of the Mississippi. We booked online (highly recommend) and took did the 2-hour history tour. Our guide actually worked at the prison for 20 years and made the tour exciting through his firsthand experiences. We explored 4 different buildings, including one built in the 1800s, one that housed the very cell where MLK’s murderer escaped from, and building that housed the gas chamber. Everyone who works there felt personally invested in the prison’s history which only drew us in more. ***Tips for going: - Book online! Some tours have age restrictions and it is important to know ahead of time. - Free parking is available at the cul de sac on a time limit. The tours are within said time limit. - The last part of the 2-hr tour involves you driving to the back of the prison. It’s super easy to find, just caught me by surprise when he directed us back to our vehicles."

"Went on a Saturday night ghost tour and was absolutely blown away by our guide Lisa. She had so much knowledge to offer while guiding us through the dark. I can't wait to come back for an overnight!"

"I went on a Friday morning for the 2 hour history tour. $25 per adult ticket. The guides were past employees of MSP, one a lieutenant of custody; the other worked in inmate services, I believe. The lieutenant had been there since the 70s and probably could have told interesting stories all day. The visited areas were housing units 3 and 4, the lower yard and the gas chamber. You were allowed to go in cells, up on the walks in housing unit 4, and into the gas chamber building. You could do the tour without too many stairs for those with mobility issues. Your admission to the old penitentiary also included free admission to the home of a past warden that had been turned into a museum for artifacts of the prison. If you like history, I highly recommend this tour."

"A great experience for folks who love a good spook! We went for the ghost tour, and seeing everything that once housed thousands of people was very interesting. We did not see or hear anything strange, and I was really hoping I would. Our guide was very knowledgeable and friendly. I would come again, maybe for the 8 hour. That sounded very interesting!"

"We did the 2-hour history tour. Our tour guides Green and Lily were so knowledgeable and had us comfortable enough to ask questions. Green gave first hard experience of his time working at the penitentiary which made the tour one we won’t soon forget! I highly recommend and plan to come back when my kids are old enough for the ghost tours!!!!"