Book your history or ghost tour this 2024 season | March - November
Ghost & Paranormal Tours
Get spooked in the missouri state penitentiary.
Our ghost and paranormal tours are a guaranteed fun and frightening experience. Whether you want to learn the ghostly stories of inmates that some say still roam the halls or you want to roll up your sleeves and learn to ghost hunt or investigate paranormal activity, our ghost and paranormal tours are a great way to experience the otherworldly side of the Missouri State Penitentiary!
- Most Popular Ghost Tour
- Hour Glass 2 hours
- Users 13 and Under Not Permitted
2-Hour Ghost Tour
Tour the spooky halls of the Missouri State Penitentiary and experience a fascinating part of Jefferson City’s history as you walk through the dungeon cells and other areas of the prison.
- Hour Glass 3 hours
3-Hour Ghost Hunt
Go ghost hunting through the eerie halls of the infamous Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided hunt! Get your EMF meters ready to see if you can find any paranormal activity.
- Hour Glass 5 hours
- Users 17 and Under Not Permitted
5-Hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation
Explore the strange and unbelievable occurrences at the Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided overnight ghost hunt. Face the ghosts of the most infamous prisoners in the dark!
- Hour Glass 8 hours
8-Hour Overnight Paranormal Investigation
Join our staff for an overnight paranormal investigation of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Book a tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary and spend the night searching for paranormal activity.
- Hour Glass 6 hours (Including Meet & Greet)
These Walls Still Talk – Overnight Investigation with MSP Staff
Spend a night investing paranormal activity with the Missouri State Penitentiary staff. This special ghost-hunting event includes a meet-and-greet and after-investigation recap.
Private 2-Hour Ghost Tour
Book a special private tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary and explore Jefferson City’s uncanny history with a personalized touch. Call us for more details!
- Hour Glass 5 hours & 8 hours
Private Overnight Paranormal Investigation
Discover the Missouri State Penitentiary on an overnight ghost tour for a more personalized experience in this haunted prison! Call us for more details.
- Hour Glass 1 hour
- Users Ages 12+
Private Student Ghost Tour
Give your students a lesson in fright with this ghost tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary! Content is age appropriate and includes state history and MSP facts and details.
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Missouri State Penitentiary: A Visitor’s Guide
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Most cities don’t stake a claim to fame on a prison, especially when it’s the state capital – but Jefferson City does, and they proudly promote and embrace this accolade. The decommissioned Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) is a draw to visitors and locals alike, and whether you hop the train in Kansas City or St. Louis, bike in on the Katy Trail or come by car to explore, you’ve got to experience what Time magazine once called the “bloodiest 47 acres in America.”
Missouri State Penitentiary – A Brief History
The Missouri State Penitentiary opened in 1836, just 10 years after the Show-Me State’s first Capitol was built and more than 80 years before the current Capitol was completed. It was one of the largest prisons in the United States (housing approximately 5,000 inmates at its peak) and the oldest continually operating prison west of the Mississippi River when it was decommissioned in 2004.
Famous (or infamous) inmates included boxer Sonny Liston, James Earl Ray and gangster Pretty Boy Floyd. Wondering why it was coined the “bloodiest 47 acres in America?” It received that title due to the high number of serious assaults on the grounds between 1963 and 1964. With its storied history and impact on the city, it’s no wonder it’s the most popular activity when searching for things to do in Jefferson City.
Tours of the Penitentiary
Walk within the walls of MSP and see where inmates lived, worked and spent “yard-time.” Tours are available March through November each year , and there are several booking options for both history and ghost tours – visitors can expect to learn plenty and get spooked occasionally.
Step Back in Time History Tour
Get an immersive experience with the daytime history tour. Upon entering, you’ll hear the metal doors slide shut behind you – it’s a very surreal experience, knowing that former inmates heard that loud, all-consuming sound as the doors locked behind them. You’ll walk through the housing units and hear about the infamous 1954 Riot, escape stories (like James Earl Ray who escaped, believe it or not, in a breadbox!), and how the penal system changed over the decades.
Moreso, the tour will take you below the surface to see the dungeon cells, a.k.a. solitary confinement, and daring individuals will have the chance to step into these confined spaces (only 7’ wide and 11’ deep) while guides shut the lights off – you’ll be absorbed by darkness and hear the shocking stories of how inmates occupied their time while in confinement.
Get Spooked in MSP Tour
If only these walls could talk … or can they? Bring your flashlights and ghost-hunting equipment to explore the mysterious halls at Missouri State Penitentiary. On your guided ghost hunt, you’ll hear about (and maybe encounter) strange and hair-raising occurrences. An exclusive feature of these tours is inspecting where inmates awaited their fate on death row – an eerie, spine-tingling space – and additionally, paranormal aficionados can book an overnight investigation with MSP’s staff. This venture gives you access to several areas of the penitentiary’s grounds and a look at 3D – the oldest, most mysterious part of Housing Unit 3.
More Missouri State Penitentiary Related Things to Do (Outside Its Walls)
Get a taste of life inside the walls at the MSP museum , which includes exhibits ranging from a comprehensive replica cell to memorabilia items on loan from a former deputy warden. You’ll also see items made or designed by previous prisoners, old newspaper clippings written about MSP, a room lined with stories and pictures of infamous inmates, plus so much more! This museum is educational and engaging, and you can visit year-round.
Prison Brews
When you’re ready for some chow, take your crew to Prison Brews . Just a few blocks away, guests can sit on the large patio or in the dining room decked out in jail house décor. The food is fantastic – the burgers are a popular entrée, and you must try the wood-fire baked pretzels with beer cheese.
Speaking of beer, the microbrewery offers a variety on tap, as well as seasonal favorites with names inspired by the proximity of the penitentiary, like Big House IPA, I Ain’t Your Honey Wheat, Go To Jail Ale and Pretty Boy Peach. Keeping with the theme – even inmates got exercise time, so stretch your muscles and enjoy some recreational time on the bocce ball courts while sipping on one of the prison-inspired brews.
While embracing a penitentiary with spectral energy might not be the most obvious choice for the capital city, MSP is singular in its history and importance – and since no one will be locking you up inside, a themed excursion to the former institution, its museum and Prison Brews is the perfect combination for a memorable time.
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When this prison opened in 1836, the Battle of the Alamo was going on in Texas. Missouri's prison was 100 years old when Alcatraz started housing federal prisoners. In 1967, the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) was named the "bloodiest 47 acres in America" by Time magazine. Before it closed in 2004, MSP was the oldest continually operating penitentiary west of the Mississippi River.
The Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) was decommissioned in 2004. It is open (seasonally) for public tours, operated by the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Tour guides are former corrections officers, guards and wardens who worked within the walls of MSP. Prison-related gifts and souvenirs are available for purchase.
The tours showcase the history of MSP and the early penal eras in the U.S. Tours may include: the control center; the upper yard; cellblocks in housing units A (the oldest remaining cellblock on the grounds; built in 1868) and other housing units; the dungeon cells (where inmates often went mad); the industry area; the exercise yard; and the gas chamber (where 40 inmates, men and women, were executed).
Visit cells of famous inmates such as heavyweight champion Sonny Liston and James Earl Ray (who escaped in 1967 and went on to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968).
The Missouri State Penitentiary is an incredibly historical site. Because of the nature and subject of the tours, no children younger than 10 are permitted. Photographs are allowed, but no video may be taken. No smoking. No food allowed. Because of the age of the facility, these tours are not wheelchair accessible. All attendees must sign a waiver of liability. Persons younger than 18 must have guardian's signature on the waiver.
This CVB reserves the right to refuse admission to anyone. You may experience low visibility, damp or wet conditions, uneven ground and stairs. You should not enter if you suffer from asthma, heart conditions, are prone to seizures, have physical ailments or any type of condition that prohibits you from walking or standing. Do not enter this attraction if you are intoxicated, wearing any form of cast, medical brace, are using crutches or a wheelchair, or have any type of physical limitation.
Reservations are required for all tours. Every person on the tour must have a reservation. You may visit the website and call the CVB for details, schedules and reservations. Extended and paranormal (ghost) tours are offered. Special and group tours may be arranged.
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Step back in time and discover the intriguing history of the infamous Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided tour! Hear about escape attempts, riots, female inmates, and more.
Explore one of the largest prisons in the U.S. that once housed 4,900 criminals. Book a history or ghost prison tour of the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City. Public and private tour options are available.
Explore the strange and unbelievable occurrences at the Missouri State Penitentiary on this guided overnight ghost hunt. Face the ghosts of the most infamous prisoners in the dark! Book Now
Visit cells of famous inmates such as heavyweight champion Sonny Liston and James Earl Ray (who escaped in 1967 and went on to assassinate Martin Luther King Jr. in 1968). The Missouri State Penitentiary is an incredibly historical site.
Missouri State Penitentiary Museum. In conjunction with the Missouri State Penitentiary tours, the museum provides additional historical information about the famous prison that operated for 168 years. The museum houses MSP memorabilia as well as a replica cell that demonstrates the living conditions at the prison.
Tours of the Penitentiary. Walk within the walls of MSP and see where inmates lived, worked and spent “yard-time.” Tours are available March through November each year, and there are several booking options for both history and ghost tours – visitors can expect to learn plenty and get spooked occasionally.
In 1967 the Missouri State Penitentiary was infamously named the "bloodiest 47 acres in America" by Time magazine because of the incredibly high number of serious assaults on the grounds between 1963 and 1964. Reservations are recommended. Groups of 25 or more can book a private tour.
The Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) opened in 1836 along the banks of the Missouri River in Jefferson City, Missouri, the state capital. The prison housed inmates for 168 years and was the oldest continually operating prison west of the Mississippi until it was decommissioned in 2004.
We did the 2-hour history tour which was terrific, chock full of background about this institution, the penal system, the activities, living conditions & employment of the prisoners, as well as anecdotes about some of the infamous inmates. Thoughtful, serious & important. Highly recommend!
The Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) was decommissioned in 2004. It is open (seasonally) for public tours, operated by the Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB). Tour guides are former corrections officers, guards and wardens who worked within the walls of MSP.