Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site Reviews

The territorial prison museum is very well done. Each exhibit is interesting. The docent in the broom factory was especially interesting. The children enjoyed this museum as well as the adults. The prison is well-preserved, and most of it is original. The stories of some of the prisoners are also very interesting.

The place was much larger than I thought. Though the cells were extreamly tiny.

One man would barely stand while another laid down.

Never realized this place held women as well.

Loads and loads of photos and personal property to look at and learn from.

Special events all year round.

Much more than expected. Detailed self paced walk thru prison history including interesting stories on many of the prisoners. Great Butch Cassidy exhibit. Also has history on ranching and gun collection.

Located 5 minutes from our hotel, this tour was not to be missed. Interesting history and well presented. We were given as our ticket a bio of one of the prisoners who had served time in the prison. We enjoyed talking with the sweet petite lady who was making a broom in the broom factory building. She was delightful to talk with and explained how brooms are made. It was a fascinating experience. $7 each was a very reasonable admission price.

Travel back in time to when the outlaws roamed the west. The tour is self guided so you can spend one hour or five hours. I had to make it to Denver to catch my flight or I definitely could have stayed longer. The bios on the many prisoners that stayed there are fascinating, Butch Cassidy among them. Be sure and chat with the volunteer "prisoners" they have lots of additional information to share.

If you are anywhere near Laramie, this should be at the top of your list. We enjoyed all of the exhibits and the weirdly fascinating demonstration of broom-making.

My wife and I splurged and spent $5.00 each to go into the site. We were given a tour of the prison and the warden's quarters. We were glad we went. There is a section set aside on information about the Wild Bunch and Butch Cassidy (he spent 18 months here as an inmate.) We also toured the broom factory - a work project for the inmates for a period of time.

We took a self guided tour and really enjoyed learning about a prison experience in the late 1800s. The placards describing the displays are very good and you get a feel for how prisoners were treated. We ran into a docent providing a guided tour and he was kind enough to lock us into one of the cells! Not for one who is claustrophobic! There was one room dedicated to Butch Cassidy and was very informative about the legend. Definitely worth a visit if in Laramie.

We arrived just in time to take the second tour of the day. The 90-minute tour was very informative, but it did not cover everything. So we went back and read more of the displays, especially the one on Butch Cassidy. We visited this and two other Wyoming Historic sites and they were all fantastic and only $8 per person. The other two sites were Quebec 01 Missile Alert Facility and South Pass City.

Our volunteer guide made the visit exceptional; gave us some history insight that would not be available with just a "Walk Through". Interesting place with nice displays to document the early years of Wyoming.

We got off at this exit for a different purpose and stumbled on this site. It is run by the state park system. Very well done. My kids love seeing the cells and guard towers. It was a great place to stretch our legs after a day of driving. Right off the interstate. Easy on, easy off. Informative and fun.

Prison experience is good but town has decided not to adequately treat for mosquitoes making experience terrible. Suggest not stopping in Laramie during summer as these bugs are worse than Alaska! We also tried to put flowers on a grave only to almost be carried away by the pests, let alone the bites. We threw the flowers and ran.

Don't miss this , we did a self guided tour but were able to ask questions of staff as we walked around . Very well maintained and signed . We ended up being there for over 2 hours. Nice little gift shop too.

It is a fun place to visit. Has a great gift shop. And includes lots of information about the history of the prison and the famous who were there such as Butch Cassidy. Also has lots of information about other western history and the area.

I'll admit that I first visited here after seeing a billboard on I-80 with Butch Cassidy's mugshot. As a fan of the 1969 film starring Paul Newman and Robert Redford, I figured this would be a fun excursion. There's a great display about Butch and the Wild Bunch, but there's also so much more.
When you enter, the guide gives you a piece of paper with the mugshot and some background on one of the inmates, encouraging you to find them in the prison. Opposite the cells are enlargements of the mugshots corresponding to these pieces of paper with information about the inmate, their background, their crime, and what's known about their life following release. The museum also discusses theories of prison reform, including the Auburn system, with information about how various territorial governors and wardens attempted to implement it.
For me, the highlight was the broom-making tools in the Prison Industries Building. At my summer job, I make brooms for a different museum and it was interesting to see what equipment the Wyoming Territorial Prison was using and how they were different, being about 40 years after the tools I use. For those unfamiliar with broom construction, there's a helpful video explaining how this equipment works.
Outside of the prison walls is a mock-up of a frontier town. It was closed on the day I visited, but I still enjoyed peeking in the windows. The 1910 Horse Barn explains how the property was later used by the University of Wyoming as an Experimental Station for livestock. Various displays demonstrate different aspects of livestock care, including horse shoeing and the equipage for using draft animals. A printing press is also on display for those interested in the history of movable type.
I took a self-guided tour and spent about two hours going through the site. Plan to take your time and allow yourself to experience what this historic site has to offer.

I had lower expectations but was pleasantly surprised. This is a gem, from the physical buildings to the stories of inmates. Excellent job of communicating the harsh experience of prison life. The volunteers obviously enjoy their role. Highly recommend this if you care anything about history of the area.

Great place to relive history. We did a self guided tour. The rangers were posted outside the buildings and gave a brief explanation before we went in. Very informative. They give you a convict before you go in and you find him/her when you read about the convicts. My teenage son really liked this aspect. Very well preserved. Don't miss the broom factory! It was super interesting!!

Learned a lot about the beginning of taming the west through law enforcement. It was crazy to read how some of them ended up in prison. Theres plenty to read and see here. You can do a self guided tour or wait for a group tour. We did the self guided but ran into the group one and didn’t hear anything outside of the pamphlet they gave us.

This is a very interesting place to visit. It is a well setup self guided tour that is worth every cent of the $5 entry fee. There is an interesting section on the jails most famous inmate Butch Cassidy.

My family and I went while they were visiting. The prison has gone through extensive renovations and has tons of cool exhibits. We decided to go with a tour guide because none of us had been before and weren't sure what to expect. The tour guide just read off a few sheets of paper and rushed everyone through the whole thing (she left people behind, and gave no time to actually look around). She didn't even include the Butch Cassidy exhibit (and didn't mention it). They offered tours at 11:00am and 2:00pm. We went to the 11:00am tour and were done before noon. I'm not sure if she had something else going on, but it was a complete waste of time and we ended up going back through the whole tour because she missed so much. It was very clear she did not want to be there. I'm sure they could find someone who actually cares to conduct the tours - it would have made the experience much better.

We recently visited during our one month stay in Laramie. We decided to hurry over to catch the first guided tour of the day. We are so glad we did! Bobbie was an amazing tour guide - and the 1,5 hours went by so quickly. There were some spots we weren't able to cover on the tour as it would have taken hours. So when it was over, he made sure we knew where to go to see any spots that still intrigued us.

We thought this would be a short visit - but instead we were there for 2.5 hours and could have stayed longer. It was so interesting to delve into some of the convicts who had stayed there by seeing their faces and reading their stories along different parts of the tour. I think that was one of my favorite parts.

Be sure to check out each outbuilding as they all have some sort of different exhibit or insight to offer. We so enjoyed our visit (and the guided tour doesn't have any upcharge - since it is offered 4 times a day in the summer season I highly recommend jumping on one!). They also had picnic tables and ample parking. And the Greenbelt Trails are accessible from here, so you can combine that with a visit.

Stopped in and took a tour. It was very interesting and had stories on the wall about the past prisoners

It was amazing to see how tiny the cell rooms were. A great look into Wyoming's past and where Butch Cassidy stayed for 2 years!

We enjoyed taking the tour of this historic prison where many notorious people were incarcerated. It was very interesting....the information the tour guide gave was interesting and informative. The exhibits are excellent and there is a great little gift shop there...a side note we were able get glasses for the eclipse here when we could not find them anywhere in hundreds of miles heading to the center area.

You will find a lot of interesting history here. The tours are really interesting and you will learn a lot about the history of this prison and also the history of Laramie. Not boring at all!

We visited this historic site while on a road trip. It seemed like a good place to stop for an hour or two.

I was really impressed with it. Although obviously the old prison is the main draw, the frontier town is equally fascinating. You can go inside several of the buildings. I especially liked the log cabin. There was even a little garden. There’s also two wagons on display out in the yard.

The prison is fascinating. During the summer, you can do a self-guided tour or a guided tour. We opted to do the self-guided. There are signs on the walls that give more information about the prison and its prisoners. You can also see inside the Warden’s house.

This was an interesting look at late 18th early 19th century prison for the "wild west". Butch Cassidy spent some time here. There is an informative display re Butch in the complex.

We had come for "Laramie Jubilee Days" specifically to see " Robert Fuller" star of the old TV Western " Laramie" . Although we didn't get to see the whole prison, what we did see was enough to imagine what it was like to have been a prisoner back in the 1800's. NO THANK YOU !!

This self guided tour was great. I can’t believe how much time and effort went into the preservation of this site. There was so much history and very well done. I highly recommend this attraction. It is definitely worth the time.

A very interesting and informative tour. The tour is self guided so you can spend as much time as you like. Reasonable rates and friendly people working there. Only takes an hour or so!

All of the building were cool, but the prison it’s self was real cool. The volunteers were so full of great histories & stories. The building was restored wonderfully & we so enjoyed that they gave us prisoner cards. The cards had one person for us to relate to & find during the tour. The cards had the persons info & photo. It made it fun to learn about our person. There were some guided tours but mostly it is self guided. It was worth the price. Adults were $5 & my teenage son was $2.50.

My kids loved it and so do my husband and me. The museum is extremely well done. There's an entire exhibit dedicated to the history of Butch Cassidy who is as imprisoned there for two years. Also, the broom factory is fascinating. The kids got to try making a broom. The volunteers are very informative and cater to young ones. I highly recommend!

While this spot would not necessarily have caught my attention in other cities, I read the reviews on TA and decided to take the tour. Glad that I went - reasonable fee, interesting self guided tour and a quilt exhibit was a bonus at the end.

If you are around and have the time take an hour and have a look around. These are places of th old west. I did not realize it but this town is at about7500 feet.

drove from fort collins to Wyoming found this place in Laramie ,on Wyoming state web site , a great place to look around with butch Cassidy the famous outlaw exhibition, also pictures of other inmates on the walls and there stories , loads to see and walk around , a nice place to see if you are that way, the staff very friendly and helpful , a few hours to see everything.

The prison is part of a Wyoming state park. The prison was interesting. Butch Cassidy was once an inmate here & a great deal of the prison was devoted to telling his exploits. In fact, I thought that too much of the prison's exhibits were devoted to Butch Cassidy. Outside the prison there are a few recreated buildings of an old west town, but compared to similar towns I have seen in this part of the country they were pathetic. I'm glad I came, but I won't go back.

This is a do not miss attraction in Laramie, WY. The prison has been completely restored. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I strongly suggest you join a guided tour. You will see the Warden's house, the broom factory, the outlaw trail, the jail cells, the Butch Cassidy exhibit, and much more. It is open all year long.

great place to learn history about Laramie and all the outlaws of the old west. And they have a great Halloween patch for the Kids

This is a painstakingly restored / reconstructed late 19th - early 20th century prison that once held Butch Cassidy and some of his associates.
When you arrive you are issued with a pretty good self-guided tour, but my advice would be to tag along to one of the museum's guided tours to orient yourself in the large facility. Our guide (Mike) was hugely knowledgeable about the history of the site, and was a really engaging and entertaining guide on the buildings, the prisoners, those that guarded them, and the day to day running of the prison back in the day.
After the tour I spent another couple of hours looking around. There are many original artifacts on display and there are plenty of information boards telling you about the things on display, the history of the prison, and some brief biographies of some of the men and women who were incarcerated here.
A real highlight is the room devoted to Butch Cassidy and his gang. One can easily spend a whole hour in this room alone. The displays give a balanced view of Cassidy's life and deeds, attempting to separate fact from legend in as much as this is possible over 100 years on. They also give some good background on life in the west at the time, which helps one to understand how Cassidy's gang were able to operate so successfully and also why they were eventually driven out of the west by the forces of law and order.
The entrance fee to this whole attraction is only $5, which must be the bargain of the century.
If you are at all interested in western history, and if you are lucky enough to find yourself in this beautiful but, to a Brit at least, little known part of the US, this site is a must-see attraction.

We didn't really know what to expect when we pulled up. Museums on the smaller side can really be hit and miss. This one was VERY well done, and we're absolutely thrilled we took the time to stop and visit. Very informative, well-maintained and staffed by folks who obviously care.

This was a nice stop to learn more about history in the West. I think it would have been better if we had done a guided tour. We arrived too late for one tour and too early for the next in our time frame. It was still worth the time to explore it and self guide tour. Check tour times and try to take a guided tour would be my suggestion.

This site is really well done. There are great pictures of prisoners and their stories on the walls. Well restored with well educated volunteers at strategic locations.
Second best prison tour after Alcatraz.

Very cool historic site that even teenagers will want to stop at. Great history and great info about butch cassidy. If your in the area or passing through I would recommend stopping and spending some time.

Stopped by to visit on the way to the Denver airport. We had a fun learning experience. The exhibits are set up very nicely with great photo opportunities. There were ten of us and every single one of us enjoyed the visit

I was expecting something along the lines of a landlocked Alcatraz. Oh no! The Wyoming Territorial Prison is so much more. I spent close to three hours here. I did a self guided ‘tour’ following a provided map with detailed explanations. The fully restored prison is fantastic. The cells really gave me the feeling of ‘being inside’ - definitely NOT somewhere I ever want to be! The history of several inmates were quite fascinating - especially when you think of their sentences compared to their crimes. An entire wing is devoted to Butch Cassidy and his Hole in the Wall Gang. The adjacent broom factory was very interesting. A pleasant nature-walking trail along the Laramie River is accessed from just outside the prison wall. I quite enjoyed the former horse barn which is a wonderful exhibit devoted to ‘Science on the Range’ that traces the transition from prison to U of W science research facility. There are several restored and recreated buildings scattered about the property which make for great exploration.

We are in town for a basketball tournament and brought 3 boys in while we waited between games. We had so much fun taking photos of the kids in cells. We learned a lot and explored around. Unfortunately a lot of things weren’t open yet but only makes us want to come back after May 1!!! My son ended up grabbing a bullet knife souvenir in the gift shop and cut his finger pretty bad. Instead of getting angry the lady on staff went way out of her way and got him bandaids and helped bandage him up. She was the sweetest!!!! Can’t thank her enough! ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

Good place to visit. The tour has extra information so try to schedule your visit at those tines. Very fascinating history!

Learn about the history of how and why Wyoming became a state. Excellent guides and well preserved prison throughout. Good shops and a worth the time and money.

Very interesting self-guided tour of Wyoming State territorial prison. Definitely worth a see, especially the Butch Cassidy exhibit. Take your time and read the informative plaques.

We spent a couple of hours here. Lots of information and interesting sites. If you like history this place is for you!

We recently visited this facility and really enjoyed our time there. We chose to do the guided tour and our guide, Debra, was very informative. I'd highly recommend if in the area.

Enjoyed the self guided tour. Photos of the prisoners with where they came from, the crime they committed and why, if they were pardoned and what they did when released. There is one whole room dedicated to Butch Cassidy and his gang. Learned a lot about his childhood and family.

This is truly a step back in time...kids and adults alike will enjoy this historic site, just off of Interstate 80 in Laramie. This is a beautifully preserved part of our old West history, complete with a rare view into the life of Butch Cassidy and the Hole In The Wall gang. The grounds are well-maintained and the small store has some great souvenir items. You can explore at your leisure or take a tour with one of the great staff members. The site has both inside and outside areas to visit. There are also some fast food places near by so you can eat and enjoy the historic site all in one convenient stop.

This was a great attraction. The whole family thought it was great and informative. The staff was very friendly and explained everything well. The walking tour was well laid out and the materials read well. We highly recommend (our boys all loved it - ages 5, 9, and 12)

This prison is one of two remaining US territorial prisons. It has been restored to a high level of accuracy, and depicts 19th and 20th century life in prison. The Wyoming Territorial prison has housed Butch Cassidy and Sundance Kid and many other famous outlaws. It is conveniently located just off I 80 (snowy Range Road exit), and there are a number ofgood motels in the vicinity. Downtown Laramie and the University of Wyoming are easily reached from the Park which includes the prison, broom factory, warden's house and parking (RV connections).

My wife and I found this place on accident. A very reasonable entry fee of $5. We spent 2 hrs looking at everything. On the weekends the volunteers dress in period clothes and give group tours. Lots of interactive activities for kids.

The old territorial prison has been very nicely renovated, and the self-guided tour let's you see the various parts of the prison complex at your leisure. The prison is just west of downtown Laramie on the road to the Snowy Mountains. The old cell blocks are fascinating, as are several other rooms and offices, as well as the warden's small house. Perhaps best (other than the prison itself) is the broom factory, which was a profit-making institution for the prison. Behind the prison are a number of other old West buildings moved here an reconstructed. A few are open, such as the church and school. An old "main street" is not open. You can easily spend a couple of hours here. Recommended, and I thought reasonablyk priced.

Funny what time can do. Back in the 1800's I'm sure you could 100 places better to be than this place, but fast forward 100+ years and you would enjoy the visit. Once home to Butch Cassidy and others of that ilk taking a tour takes you back in time. There are photos on the walls and descriptions of people who lived there. Cell Block Rule #1...NO TALKING! Imagine that! It wasn't a fun place. Other areas are the kitchen, dental office, infirmary, prison industries, etc. Go for a visit and you will enjoy it.

If you are "into history" at all, this is a fantastic place to stop. The have good parking, RV parking also, easy access and guided tours or on your own tours. Very interesting little slice of life in the old west.

We visited on our drive up to Snowy Range Pass. A really cool historical diversion and education into the American West.

Awesome old prison, well maintained with friendly docents. A step back in time for sure. Very reasonably priced. I wish that I could have spent more time there!

Excellent step back in history. Guided tour through Wardens Quarters, prison and broom manufacturing. Also barns and agricultural buildings. Docents very knowledgeable and enthusiastic.

Visiting the historic prison is a fun activity for families or history buffs traveling through the sleepy high plains town of Laramie, WY. Worth the stop!

This is a great place. The renovations look very authentic. The prison, the church, the stable, the general store, and my favorite - the building where they made brooms to support the prison. They also have a gift shop with lots of neat souvenirs. We enjoyed it.

Don't miss this museum if you visit Laramie. Well prepared exhibition with lots of facts and surprising stories about life in the "Wild West".

Don’t miss out on your chance to visit the Wyoming Territorial Prison. It is so full of history. Butch Cassidy was probably the most famous prisoner there and there is a room dedicated to him. You really learn a lot about Wyoming before it’s statehood!

Fun and educational tour. A great place for tourists. Prisoner wagon like one used in the movie "Hang Em High". Can go in the prison cells.

This truly was a lesson in history. I really enjoyed and you could go at your own pace. It was very well maintained.

My husband and I visited the Wyoming Territorial Prison last week. We took the free tour that was offered by Barb, a volunteer. She is amazing. How fortunate we felt to have her provide detailed facts and information. Incredible stories that made our visit come to life. The prison was very interesting and I’m glad we stopped. The tour guide was Fantastic! I highly recommend a visit.

Loved this place, they have worked really hard to make it look authentic for the time. The staff are very enthusiastic and you should definitely do a tour but you will need to check the days they do these on their website. Worth the entrance fee of $5.

We certainly enjoyed our visit and learned a great deal about western history and outlaws, law enforcement and criminal justice. Well defined exhibits, great pictures, so much to see and do. Well worth the time! The Butch Cassidy exhibit is very good, too!

While we were generally disappointed with "things to do" in Wyoming, we were not disappointed in the State Prison in Laramie. So much history and perfectly displayed. I found it especially interesting that there is still a working broom factory at the prison. Not a modern factory but one that shows how brooms were made way back when. They have some of these gems in the gift shop for purchase.

Very nice. Very interesting.
Not scary...wish there was more information on more prisoners. It would be nice to see more pictures of prisoners also.

Really enjoyed our visit here. The staff throughout are very kind and helpful. The displays are informative about the history of the location. It is great tour with a lot to see and the price is very reasonable for a family.

Butch Cassidy was at this prison. Great self guided tour and lots of information to see. Inexpensive. Enjoyed very much.

We were on our driving vacation out west and saw the sign, thought we would stop. Am I glad we did!! What a wonderful museum and historical site to visit. We did the self guided tour, so we were free to roam at our own pace, and it was fascinating. Everything is well maintained, the staff was super friendly. And the gift shop was very nice, not just your usual stuff, but some truly interesting items. If you are in the area, don't miss this gem.

We did the 2pm tour and our guide was very knowledgeable and guided us through the whole prison. I found the tour and prison, itself to be very interesting. If you are staying in Laramie, Wyoming or just driving through, I would definitely recommend you visit this historical site. Butch Cassidy was an inmate in this prison!

Absolutely great time. There was a blizzard out so we were the only ones there. The exhibits were done in such a way that enhanced the area you were viewing. If in the area again, we will definitely go back!

This is where I wanted to go for my birthday - so we went and had a great time. I loved all the history, The people dressed in costume were so knowledgeable and really kept the kids engaged. It was great to learn how their brooms are made. We probably spent 3-4 hours just taking our time and enjoying the day. Gift shop has some very unique items.

Not a bad way to spend a couple of hours and priced about right. Staff was friendly and knowledgeable about the facility and offered some interesting insights. The prison was near self sustaining with all the usual laundry, kitchen and infirmary. Plus, this particular prison was responsible for some of it's own financing and accomplished this through a broom factory. The factory and tools are still intact and museum staff was glad to show the process. very interesting!

This is not just a prison, there's a ton of old west stuff. I was also thrilled to find an entire room dedicated to Butch Cassidy who was held there for awhile.

Stumbled upon this little museum by accident after pulling off the interstate at Laramie and I’m so glad we did!

At only $5 for an adult admission this attraction is great value for money. The staff in the visitors area were welcoming and very knowledgable about the prison. The little gift shop is great for picking up a souvenir.

The prison building itself is fascinating and has been well restored. The exhibitions are interesting - we could have easily spent more time reading about each prisoners personal story but unfortunately we had to move on.

Well worth a visit!

We got over an hour's worth of education and entertainment from this wonderfully intact historical site, and I'd recommend it to anyone. It's only $5 for an adult, easy to get to, and you can spend as much or as little time there as you'd like. The tours are self-guided generally, although on the Saturday we went, two guided tours were offered as well.

Previous reviews sum it up. It's scenic and picturesque. Displays and explanations very well done. Their short bios of the inmates are great. The gift shop has interesting prison-themed stuff that is amusing and unique. I hurried a bit and still spent an hour. Count on spending 1-1/2 to 2 hours to do it properly. (Not much else in the area to rush to anyway.)

Quick, interesting, historic Laramie attraction. The museum is nicely organized and detailed. Very well kept.

I loved reading the stories of some of the convicts that were there. It was interesting seeing the prison. It has been restored nicely.

This is really informative place to visit it is the history of the wild west. Tour the prison and see the cells that outlaws like Butch Cassidy lived in. Very informative staff on hand to tell you what it was all about.

We happened to be at the Prison on state day. It was so much fun. We did our own tour and the maps they have are easy to follow. If you have questions, there is usually someone around to answer them. Back in the day the prisoners made brooms and the broom factory has a very good video that explains how a broom is made. It was worth the time to go through the different buildings. The Butch Cassidy exhibit was very good.

Barb is the best tour guide. She is very informative and makes the tour interesting. The prison has a great history. Would recommend this place for anyone interested in history.

Amazing history, beautiful grounds and staff is friendly and helpful.
Take the self guided tour and take your time.

The other reviewers pretty much tell it all. I loved the displays and the volunteers that assist you. Plan on spending two or three hours here. I would highly recommend it.

In our looking for things to do in Laramie... this kept popping up. So glad we went. Self guided tour is so fun, took a lot of photos. I did work for NJDOC so found it extremely informative.

Interesting, albeit a bit "touristy". I hope this is my only stint in a prison, and it is interesting to see the old ways. Makes me wonder if our prisoners today get a bit too much?

While Grandma went to church, Grandpa (myself) and our 16-year-old grandson visited the prison site. We arrived in time for a guided tour and found it very interesting. Reenactors included a guard chasing an escaped prisoner. It wasn't overdone and was informative. Sadly, we had to depart to pick up Grandma from church by the time we got to the broom factory, where we did learn most of the history before running off. My grandson and I were glad we visited instead of staying cooped up at the motel.

Further below I have clicked that strollers are not accommodated. That is because stairs inside the prison take one to the second floor, where there are some museum displays. On the grounds and lower level, I suppose strollers would be okay.

Honestly, have not been to the museum. We use the dump station when coming back down from camping on the Snowy Range. Usually fills up around 11, but typically everyone moves pretty quick. Cost is about $5.

Very interesting characters were locked up in this prison. I enjoy self guided tours so this was great for me. They also had guided tours. The broom factory was educational. The history of the buildings and there uses through the years was interesting. A nice visit. They also have facilities for RV travelers for a donation.

What a great stop on a road trip. You can spend 30 minutes or 3 hours since the admission is quite reasonable. If you are a Butch Cassidy fan, there is a lot of information and displays regarding him. I thought we were being followed by security until I realized it was some one role playing a sheriff. Plus you are given a prisoner identity at admission. Be sure to visit the broom factory/workshop. There is an"Inmate" making the brooms and he will explain all the steps and the history behind it. I highly recommend-wish we had more time to explore.

We were especially interested in seeing the prison as we have family members who work in corrections. What an eye-opener! Present-day prisons are like "resorts" compared to this institution. Of special interest was a display of a well-known prisoner: Butch Cassidy. The tour of the prison is self-guided and very "hands-on". Worth the visit!

We had to buzz through this really quickly because of time constraints but I do recommend this restored site for anyone. It made us know we are glad we didn't live here and in that time period because there were prisoners with very slight convictions who served hard long labor.

This was a cool stop. It's designed to be self-guided (my preference), and there's plenty of good info along the way. Reading the biographies of the inmates, then their dispensation of justice, is fascinating.

With an admission price of only $5 for adults, $2.50 for kids, and under 12 free this was a really inexpensive afternoon! Not only is the prison filled with interesting facts but they give you a card with the name and information of an inmate to learn about during your visit. The site is clean and well maintained and we really enjoyed learning more about life at that time. Not to mention the great exhibit on Butch Cassidy, who was once held there. My family had a great time!

We enjoyed visiting the Wyoming Territorial Prison Site. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. We took the tour that is available every hour. We were impressed with the locks on the cell doors that was built in 1889.

If you like this sort of thing it's great. Many descriptions of the prisoners and their crimes. Easy to walk around. Butch Cassidy exhibit very good. Go to broom shop there are many interesting things and people to meet. Allow two hours

The TA description gives a lot of information so I won't repeat that but this site is well put together and the exhibits are excellent. The buildings have been restored and the cells etc have maintained there "real life characteristics ". The upstairs has been remodeled with exhibits. Butch Cassidy spent some time here and they have a huge exhibit about him and his gang. Really interesting stuff. I read in some reviews there was a guide but we were offered only self guided. Perhaps it's too late in the season. The map was easy to follow. The gift shop is nice with lots of great books.

The tour through the Prison was very educational as for the conditions in there during that era. The factory and the barn where the prisoners worked was also interesting. There are many displays with written summaries below them to read for an understanding of life in those times.

My whole family loved it. A lot of fun for the young ones and adults alike! One thing I was disappointed with, however, was that they renovated and modernized part of the prison, but it was still great!

We spent a couple of hours touring the prison. Well laid out and lots of information available. Great graphics on some of the inmates housed here. Learned a lot about the various crimes and punishments of those days. In rhe shop behind the actual prison, you can learn how brooms are made.

Was nice about an hour tour.. Something new to see while I was on town.. سجن تراثي عندهم يسوى ينشاف.. رحلة مدة ساعة بالكثير

Great self guided tour got there at 9 am on Friday morning and left by 11 but were in a hurry for another appointment or we would have stayed longer. Picnic tables available on the grounds also. Staff was very friendly. There was a lady at the broom factory actually making the brooms. The cost was $9 I believe for adults to get in but so worth it. Would definitely recommend.

We love historical tours and were looking forward to this tour. It was just ok. Nothing terribly special. It is well taken care of and do want to give them that kudo as they keep the structures and the grounds ok.

Whatever you do, please put the Territorial prison on your bucket list. Established in the 1800*s and house some of the most diabolical criminals and rat tags from the Old Wild Wild West. There is so much rich history here and that it is hard to write about. Its a must see and do. You get to see the jail cells, the mess hall, the infirmary, the library, the church, the warden's hall, the open courtyard area and just so much more. There is a fantastic display of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid that should not be missed. I would give this place a 10 stars if I could.

A lot of work went into the renovation of this territorial prison. You cant beat the price, $5, for an hour or so of a lot of interesting information about life ( in prison ) in the old west. The tour is self guided so you can go at your own speed.

Interesting look at conditions of prisoners about the time of statehood. Not a nice place to spend the winter

As a wheelchair user, I found it to be pretty well accessible. The staff was very knowledgeable about the prison. Beautiful scenery. Great drive from Colorado.

We really enjoyed our tour of this historic site. It’s very well done, and has information about various prisoners around the prison. We weren’t sure what to expect, and we were very pleasantly surprised by the quality of restoration and telling the history of the place. Highly recommend ... we stayed a few hours!

Built before Wyoming was a state, this prison has been well restored and has lots of info. The restored broom factory has knowledgable volunteers who still use it to make brooms. Only known prison to hold Butch Cassidy.

Very cool historic buildings and restored areas. The tours are self guided and include the Warden’s House, the Prison Building including cells and a large display centered around their most famous prisoner, Butch Cassidy. There are several outer buildings, one is the broom factory where prisoners made brooms and two barns used recently when the University of Wyoming used the area for agricultural studies. Small admission fee - totally worth it!

The prison visit was amazing. All laid out in great order and easy to understand history of Wyoming. And, amazing to think that Butch Cassidy was an inmate there. When you look at his prison number makes me wonder if that where California police code for murder comes from.

Easy to fine and inexpensive. Good for families or just couples interested in history. Lots of reading and walking. Detialed history of facilty and inmates. Able to enter a couple of prison cells

Incredible museum for inexpensive cost. We'll set up and guided tour for $5. Friendly and informative guide. Well restored.

We enjoyed a 1.5 hour stopover at the Territorial Prison to find the history of the Old West and we found it. From the old prison to the buildings, stories and exhibits this was well worth the stop, even for us museum haters. It's easy to find, has excellent information boards and is immaculately clean and inviting. Take the time to look up some of its history before visiting, you won't regret it.

Even though some buildings had been added it was a very interesting trip especially the details of some of the inmates
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tried to visit the Old Territorial Prison, as the web page noted it was open 7 days a week into October, but when we got there the sign noted only open Wednesday to Sunday.

We enjoyed this a lot! While there was a tour offered, we decided to go through everything on or own. There was a lot of interesting information and a ton of original content! It’s definitely worth the stop in my opinion.

This is an excellent stop on I-80 that takes you back in time to the1800's. You learn about frontier justice and how butch Cassidy created his gang.

This was our favorite stop on our road trip from Chicago to Park City. This was right off the I-80. Cool history with Butch Cassidy. The staff was friendly and engaging with the kids. It was a great way break up the long day of travel allowing us to stretch and walk around, without throwing off of schedule (30 minutes to 1 hour).

What a surprise. This is a gem tobgobsee. They have an extensive display area devoted to Butch Cassidy. Very well presented and organized. The grounds are extensive and everyone polite and informative. The broom making room is a must.

Stopped to see where Butch Cassidy spent some time. Grandson had a wonderful time in and out of cells and running the grounds. The visitor center folks were very informative

If you like U.S. History, the Wyoming Territorial Prison is worth a visit! Interesting to see where some of America’s most notorious bad (and not so bad) actors, including Butch Cassidy of “Wild Bunch” fame did penance for their crimes! A couple hours is about all it takes to adequately cover the self-guided tour of the prison. Budget another half hour for the gift shop where souvenirs and several interesting books on Wyoming and Western U.S. history may be purchased. Entrance fee for adults is a reasonable $5. Bring a light jacket, as the halls of the prison can get chilly.

This was a visit of the old prison which was used in the Wild West. The main building was excellent, with so much to see. Lots of true stories about the inmates and a special exhibition for Bruce Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.

The other buildings weren't great. The governor's office was closed for refurbishment and the buildings in the little wild west town were facades only. There are lots of other places where you can visit proper western towns.

However, I've given 5 stars because the main prison itself was worth the visit. $7, which seemed very good for what we saw.

The lady in the shop was really friendly and helpful.

We took the self guided tour of this site and ended up spending 90 minutes when we’d planned on maybe 45. $5 entry fee is well worth it.

This is a typical place with artifacts, interactive displays, lots of explanatory signage and some gimmicks.

They have done a great job with the renovation and it’s a pleasant way to learn about an offbeat part of western history.

We made the scenic drive from Cheyenne to Laramie and decided to see the Wyoming Territorial Prison. It was nicely done and well worth the visit.

Stopped while on a road trip. We did a self guided tour, not very big but very interesting and educational. Lots of interesting Prisoner stories. Very few visitors there.

The exhibits are very well put together. So many different stories of the inmates that were there. The new Butch Cassidy exhibit was superb. I definitely recommend checking it out.

Fascinating picture of the Old West, and a fantastic job of restoration. As others have said, you can spend hours here (or you can probably get the essence in an hour, if you really need to). We visited mid-day on a Wednesday in late July, and there were only a few others there, providing for a relaxing visit.

Dogs are allowed in the outdoor areas, but not inside any of the restored buildings.

One odd thing is that there is no senior rate for admission, though the $9/adult was reasonable for the quality.

Even though some buildings had been added it was a very interesting trip especially the details of some of the inmates

My husband and I moved west from PA three years ago and have now toured all three of the remaining territorial prisons left in the west (Rawlins WY, Boise ID and this one). We have not sought them out, but have visited because we happen to be in the area. The information presented by the docent, along with the exhibits throughout the property, was well worth the time and price. However, we were somewhat disappointed at the structures (buildings) themselves as they have been altered considerably since the prison closed in 1903. The University of Wyoming used this facility for their Ag Dept for over 80 years after it ceased being used as a prison. The prison has been somewhat restored, but we in no way got a sense of how horrible it would have been to be incarcerated here as we did in the other prisons we have visited. It's well worth your time just to get the wonderful tour by the very knowledgeable docent.

Enjoyed every bit of the tour. The Park service is friendly and enjoyable to visit with. The volunteers are friendly and very knowledgeable of the prison and its history. Enjoyable for any age. We are history buffs and spent three hours on our own self guided tour.

This is a very well done historical site. It includes recontructed sections and rehabbed original sections. The didactics were very good and they have several interesting special exhibits including one on Butch Cassidyvand another one on the African American community at Empire, WY. The employee in the gift shop was super friendly and informative. Kasaundra really helped us by answering several questions we had at the end.

Okay place to visit. Almost completely reconstructed so there was little feeling of authenticity. Very nice people.

Attended a wedding on the property. Site is pretty cool and actually had time to tour the prison and surrounding grounds. Knowledgeable staff and well layers out. Good background on Butch Cassidy who spent some time there. Great wedding venue too if you can overlook the obvious symbolism. Gives new meaning to the old ball and chain

We stopped thinking we would do a quick look around, however once inside there is so much history, pictures and things to look at we spent almost three hours. It is almost overwhelming to read about the history and the inmates along with other figures such as wardens and sheriffs.
We are glad we took our time since we enjoyed the step back into the history of this area.

Had no clue this place existed but went as we had some time. This is a restored prison with actors in place and discuss and act the time period. Very interesting info about crime and punishments in those years. It worth the 2 hours

The caretakers of this site have done a remarkable job of recreating the feeling of the prison setting in the late 1880s. The history comes alive as you follow a self-guided tour of the grounds. Butch Cassidy was incarcerated here and the history of female inmates is documented. The grounds are a great place to bring a picnic and spend time before or after touring the site.

We were very pleased with our tour of this historic prison. We had a self-guided tour which was presented very well with pictures, informational boards, etc. The tour made it very interesting and informative about the history of Wyoming and this prison. Easy to follow and understand what was being presented and talked about. We were very glad that we took the time to stop and tour the prison.

Conveniently located off I-80. Plenty of parking with space enough for RVs. Open 10-4. Admission is $7.50 adults, $3.50 age 12-17, free under age 12. Last ticket sold at 3pm. The prison building and grounds went through several stages. Prison for almost 30yrs, University of WY experimental agricultural farm from 1903-1980’s, theme park until 1990 when the state took it back over to preserve the site as a Territorial Prison. Due to Covid there are no tours of the prison but you are given a map for a self-guided tour. Bring a face mask as they are recommended. The awesome volunteers on site give you an introduction and answer questions. You can see the Warden’s house, Prison, Broom factory, Science on the Range exhibit, sheep pavilion with old carriages and farm equipment, and a church, cabin, that were moved to the site. You can easily spend an hour alone in the prison so give yourself enough time to see it all. The gift shop has nice items including brooms made onsite. Picnic tables are scattered at the site so nice place to bring lunch. Bring water and wear comfortable walking shoes. There is an elevator in the prison to access the second floor. No pets except service dogs are allowed in the buildings. A wonderful place to visit.

This was a great stop for our 11 year-old boys! We took the guided tour and the ranger, Taylor, was kind enough to tell us facts and stories for nearly an hour and a half. The pictures of prisoners inside and the exhibit for Butch Cassidy were surprisingly detailed.

In the Visitor Center, you can pick up a map/brochure of the grounds. The walk through the actual prison is self-guided (you need the brochure). This is like walking through a museum dedicated to the "Old West." The artifacts and memorabilia are displayed in a manner befitting a world class museum. Very impressive!

Do not miss the Prison Industries Building, also known as the Broom Factory. Convicts made up to 720 brooms daily! Inside, there is an excellent film illustrating how brooms are made by hand. Fascinating!

We came here expecting that it was like a 15-20 minute stop, but there is a lot to see here. Butch Cassidy was imprisoned here so there was a good sized exhibit about his life. But there was also other exhibits like women who were held here and the actual cells. We spent over an hour there. Admission fee is reasonable and there is a small gift shop on premises.

My husband grew up in Laramie, but had never learned about this prison. It was very interesting - great exhibits that you walk around at your leisure. You can spend 1 hour or 4 hours here. It was interesting to learn about the culture, lifestyle and expectations during that 1880-1910 era.

Being retired law enforcement,this was a very interesting stop for us. It is self-guided,with lots of information posted along the way.

This was an interesting place to visit- you see what a 19th century prison was like. They had a living history guy explaining how the inmates worked in the broom factory. It is sad to read the stories of the inmates, but it is interesting history.

This is a wonderfully done piece of American and Wyoming history. The guides are knowledgeable and a lot of fun. Plan to spend hours roaming the grounds, visiting the buildings and the warden's home. You can picture what prison life was back when the territorial prison was in operation. Take the time to visit and learn!

What a great hidden treasure. The tour guides were so knowledgeable about everything about the park and about history in general. Our guide not only told us what was happening at the prison but also what was happening the exact same time in New York City. Truly worth a mere $6.00 to get in.

Lots of details showing how the prison was constructed. Cells open so we could tell how small; check out the ones with hammocks. Walk upstairs to see the rifle collection and details about women prisoners. Upstairs (there is an elevator) provides a view of the infirmary and dental services.
We were especially intrigued by the broom-making industrial building. We even watched the video by a contemporary broom maker.
Check out the barn — it’s beautiful.
Gift shop is exceptional. We got several items including a basket made of lariats. So well done.

We were headed to Montana and some friends that knew we were going and our route recommended we stop here for a visit. What a great break from what was a 3.5 day drive!
The prison is easy to find and there is plenty of parking. We were wanting a guided tour but nobody was available to give us one but they had a great map that made it easy to guide ourselves. And the cost was only $9 for two seniors. (I believe a senior is considered to be over 60 for this venue.)
The prison restoration is amazing. After it was a prison, it was used by the university as a barn for animals and the state it ended up in was horrible. (There are pictures so you can see what the restoration started with.) What they've done is almost beyond belief. There are cells, the dining room, the bathrooms and showers, the doctor's and dentist's offices, the guards quarters and the warden's house. Lots of pictures and the stories of the inmates including some famous ones and ones you've never heard of.
There is a working reproduction of a broom factory where the prisoners worked and they even have someone there at times that goes through the broom making process for you so you can see it actually being done. And if that person isn't there, there is a video looping that shows the process in detail.
There is also another building with more old west history in it. You could spend 1-2 hours and just tour the prison or spend as much over that as you want and explore the other buildings. If you do it all, I think you could easily spend a total of 4-5 hours. I think we were there about three hours.
There is a gift shop and the folks working there were an nice as they could be and knowledgeable and willing to answer questions. I am so glad we made time to do this. It was very fun, educational and one of the highlights of our trip.

Very interesting place! It got us very interested in the story of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid. A different kind of sight, but definitely worth a visit!

Great pictues and history of Butch Cassidy and other inmates even woman and their stories. The grounds are beautiful, nice place to visit and learn some history of the area.

The history was great, the self tour was absolutely informative, the guides were knowledgeable and enjoyed talking with us. Had no idea how they made brooms, do now. Definitely worth the visit.

We arrived at Wyoming Territorial Prison not really knowing what to expect. Our tour guide made the visit and experience an amazing one. She was excellent in telling us about the history of the prison and other pertinent information. Great place to check out!

Went on a Sunday morning and had a fantastic tour by Gail. You see the Wardens House, the jail, cells (even got locked into one), a Butch Cassidy exhibit, the barn and workrooms. Climb aboard a buckboard and see the prison wagon. I was particularly impressed with the story of May Preston Slosson, the first female chaplain of the prison.
This is an excellent place to go for the whole family if you are near Laramie.

This is quite a place. So well done. So many helpful and knowledgeable volunteers. Eye opening to both kids and adults. The exhibitions are integrated into the old prison which was used only about 30 years in the late 1900's. The enlarged pics and stories about individual prisoners open one's eyes to the history and experience of the western experience. The Smithsonian exhibition on Butch Cassidy is a great way to learn about what life was like. This is real stuff right from his birth. A must do.

This was an excellent afternoon! Steve, the docent who led our guided tour, was awesome! He brought a lot of life to the experience as we toured the site. The site itself is very interesting, even my two teenage boys liked it! There are actually two sites in one, the prison and also the part dedicated to what the prison became after it closed. We didn't have enough time to look over everything and we had to miss the live broom making demonstration (teen boys got hungry!) but we will definitely be back to see it another time. Extremely reasonable in price too. $5 for adults & $2.50 for children and seniors. Worth every penny!

This was a planned pit stop on the way to Yellowstone. Glad we did. We were there on a Tuesday afternoon in May and there were only 5 or 6 other visitors at the time. I could see where it would get busy in the summer. A great look at the wild side of the wild west. The buildings have had a great restoration. The information and the way it is presented is well done. You could spend hours if you read it all. Nice short walk around the old western town.

When in the west, its always interesting to see places like Deadwood or Hole in the Wall, well, here is where some of those desperados spent some 'down time'. Very interesting place, yep, Butch Cassidy spent a couple years here. When he got out, then he really got going with the bank and train robbing. Very much enjoyed visiting, wouldn't want to spend more than half a day here though.

Wonderful tour guide provided stories and background. Learn how a NYC born and educated woman changed the whole way prisoners were treated resulting in greatly reduced recidivism .

This is a must see if you are in Laramie. The restoration of this facility is amazing. The tour guides were fun and interesting and if you love the old west and its history you will love this experience. Very affordable at only $5 for an adult.

I loved my visit to the prison. I wish I had had more time. There is so much to see and read about. Our tour guide was great and knowledgable. The actual prisoner photos on the walls with their names and crimes was very interesting. The broom factory was also intersting. I would go back and spend more time.

We arrived mid-morning on a Saturday, and we're greeted by warm and inviting staff at meticulously clean grounds. We opted not to take advantage of their tours, but Every Single Staffer took time out to engage with us and give us so many interesting facts. We found that many are veterans of former LEOs, so the entire experience was awesome!! There are snacks and beverages available, and the gift shop is beautifully stocked. The whole tour takes about 2 hours, but the layers of history are many and deep. Dont miss this gem!!

Very interesting! We stopped here in the way to Yellowstone and are so glad that we did. This place was very interesting and worth the stop!

The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site in Laramie, WY was recommended to us by the owners of the Elk Mountain Historic Motel where we stayed the previous night. We were very pleased they did.
Actually the Prison is only one aspect of the site, albeit the most interesting & fascinating. In addition it has the Wardens House, stables, a laundry and a visitors center.
We took a self guided tour so that we could spend as much time as we wanted with the exhibits. We started from the visitor's center and each of us was given a card with an actual prisoner on them that told their history., one male, one female.(We later put these in our trip book). Then we headed for a very finely maintained prison. There were two floors of prisoner cells, in addition to guard rooms, a chapel, kitchen, dining room, and infirmary. There was also a room dedicated to Butch Cassidy who was a prisoner there but escaped. The walls were posted with biographies of some of the more interesting prisoners as well as law enforcement officers.
The prison was surrounded by wooden walls and guardhouses and had a workroom within a separate building where the prisoners made brooms to sell. A ranger demonstrated how they were made and told us the history of the prison as well.
The personnel, from the visitor's center, Rangers, and the prison custodian were friendly and highly knowledgable about the prison and prisoners.
If you get the chance,the Wyoming Territorial Prison is a great place to visit!

I attended/helped set up a wedding in June 2017, and as a venue, the upstairs part of the Horse Barn was amazing. Beautiful and open, and the staff was wiling to help us with anything we needed during set up (which they let us start when the site opened at 8:30 in the morning so we didn't have to rush). The guests were also free to check out exhibits during the down time, and everyone commented on how amazing the history was with Butch Cassidy being held in the prison as well as all the historical significance to the area. Definitely recommend this to others!

Great exhibit interpreting the careers of Butch Cassidy and the Sundance kid. Very well researched. Lots of posted written material on prisoners and prison life from entry into the system through daily life, to discharge. Great treatment of how politics interacted with prison appointments and construction.

This is a real bargain for only $5. Its a self-guided tour through the refurbished prison. Lots of pictures of the prisoners and their stories on the wall. Easy two hours if you want to take in everything like I did.

Really nice tour. This was self guided for the most part. There was a volunteer whom we ran into that provided us with lot more details. We enjoyed the broom demonstration. Everyone was friendly. Worth going to. A lot of interesting history just reading the various signage regarding the swings in sentences for various prisoners (man and woman). We would return. We were there the day before Memorial Day and it was not busy.

We visited the Wyoming Territorial Prison on a cold spring day and had a great time learning about the setting, prior inmates and the broom production area. I would definitely recommend that travelers visit this prison.
There was some confusion about the opening days. The website and visitors center showed it to be closed, however it was opened.

Very nice facility. Restoration was very well done. Educational and entertaining. Great way to spend a morning or afternoon in Laramie!

Really enjoyed visiting this historic landmark. Plenty of great information on the tour, and nice people. Cheap admission too!

We drove 45 minutes from our hotel in Cheyenne to tour this site. It was well worth the time. The former prison is small and a self-guided tour is easy though there are guided tours. The state has done a great job remodeling the building and presenting its history. The story is interesting as relates to Butch Cassidy, the most infamous of the prisoners. There are stories of several of the eclectic inmates also adding to making this interesting. The staff were helpful and welcoming. A pleasant and enjoyable stop on our travels.

Love the history there. The volunteers there were so helpful. They shared the stories of the old jail house kept us all involved. Thank you all for the great experience there. It’s a must see if you are in the area.

The staff at the site offers free guided tours throughout the day. You would be wise to take one, then go back thru the site on your own afterward. The tour took about an hour, and then we took another hour or so to read many of the displays in the buildings on our own. Butch Cassidy was held here for two years, and there is a whole area dedicated to his story. The state of Wyoming has done an excellent job in preserving this site. It is a real glimpse into the west as it was settled. You won't regret the small entry fee at all.

I've been to this park before, several years ago, but the prison has had a lot of work done to it to enhance the detail of 1800 prison life. Known for where Butch Cassidy was incarcerated, there are a lot of great displays and signage us educational and beautifully done. You can definately self tour.
I was sad to see the ghost town area... it really should have some activity of life. Deteriorating buildings and when I was there in the 90's there were actors and a Saloon with refreshments and music. Great gift shop! AND its per friendly except pets aren't allowed in the buildings. Theres plenty of shady areas and benches.

We went here for a friends birthday who had never been. We had s great time. We enjoyed the volunteers and the prison breaks they had. The kids had fun helping the guards catch the escapees. We spent 3 hours walking and reading the info cards.

Awesome attraction with a lot of displays of actual devices and historical items from the time the prison was open. The prison had to be renovated after being returned to Laramie from the agricultural university program and the renovation is amazing. Go see for yourself and met Butch Kassidy and some other criminals, read their history and be amazed at the sentences for their crimes. Walk a mile in their shoes, stand in their cells and feel the eerie feeling of the punishments. Amazing to me, that once booked, the inmates were not allowed to talk, not too each other, only to guys to request what they needed, and punishments were stuff for breaking this rule. The prison was run in utter silence.

My boyfriend is an ex prison guard, so we always stop at prison museums on our travels. This one is by far the best we've been to! It is so well done, and there is so much to see. Walking through the prison itself was so surreal. It was a bit creepy to think this used to house prisoners, but it was also so amazing because it's real history. The wardens' house was interesting as well. I was surprised to see how small it was, but that is how people lived back in the day (if you weren't super rich).

The broom making building was interesting, and there was someone there making brooms while we were walking through. They do sell hand-made brooms in the gift shop. There is also a small pioneer town to walk through as well, although most of the buildings you can't enter. The little church was very pretty, especially the stained glass window.

You end your tour in the gift shop which sells typical touristy souvenirs but also interesting things like a pen with a knife in it among others. Admission was only $9 and worth every penny. They do offer guided tours several times a day, but we chose to walk through ourselves. It's definitely worth a stop.

My wife is a ghost buff and we have seen the prison on TV a couple of times so it was a must stop when we hit Laramie.
They've done a really good job of restoration and the self-guided tour was really interesting.
We didn't see any ghost but we talked to someone in town who has some experiences.

I went with my two 20-something adult children during Memorial Day weekend. There were only a few families, so we felt like we had the place to ourselves. The exhibits are very interesting and have excellent pictorial and narrative descriptions of former inmates, the daily routine of a prisoner, and the broom making industry at the prison. The Butcher Cassidy exhibit was great! The tour guides are very knowledgeable. All of the buildings and artifacts are very well preserved. It was 2 hours well spent!

A fun stop for history buffs. Need a minimum of 2 hours. Definitely gives you a true perspective of Wild West history from a different angle. Lots to read and see about previous occupants.

We had a great time here's some more info- No need to commit a crime to do time at the territorial prison. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, explore this 1872 imposing stone structure that held “evil doers of all classes and kinds.” Built as a federal prison (1872-1890), it later became Wyoming’s state penitentiary (1890-1903). During these years, 1,063 malicious convicts walked through the iron doors and occupied the cells.

A not very large museum, but well maintained and very clean. It was very quiet, almost no visitors. It is also about the “outlaws” and recognized stories that we encountered earlier on this trip. Definitely recommended for 2 hours. Reminded us a bit of Alcatraz in miniature, and that for 9 dollars is very reasonable.

We stopped here on our way back to Denver and enjoyed seeing what prison life was like in the 1800s. Overall atmosphere isn't too bad. The broom factory is interesting but don't go in if you have allergies.There is lots of reading and also a guided tour.

For someone how likes history this prison is great. The broom factory was interesting along with the cell block which has some of the original building still there.

I visited with my 7 year old daughter.. I knew she wouldn't enjoy but I really liked it. The history of it is wonderful. The grounds could use more upkeep, that's for sure.

Only expected to spend 1-2 hrs here. Definitely plan more. The whole grounds have a unique history. The warden's house is open and furnished in period pieces. There is a great photo op in the prison wagon. The prison itself has a lot of pictures of those who had been jailed there with info about them. The cells are so small to have housed 2 inmates. We were able to see a broom making demonstration in the Industry building where inmates worked to earn money for the prison. A turkey broom makes a really cool souvenir, especially since you know it's made there on the grounds. This is a great place to spend a whole morning.

We received a really great Guided Tour of the Territorial Prison this week!! SO WELL DONE!!! Prison, Horse Barn, broom factory etc, EVERYTHING WAS GREAT!!! What a Fantastic facility!!!

Visited here even though we had visited the prison in Rawlins earlier. Enjoyed this one so much more. Almost all the buildings are original, just remodeled. The tour is self guided but they give you a brochure that has numbers to match the stops along the way. Very easy to follow with lots of information. There is also posters inside with info.... too much to read it all. You can easily spend a day here but we only had an hour and a half to spare. There is a nature trail included that we didn't get to make use of.

Not the type of attraction you'd normally expect to include in your vacation sightseeing but don't ignore it! The prison has been very well restored, to mirror its original condition, its exhibits are very well maintained and presented; the result is a fascinating insight into the history of penal practices in Wyoming. Of special note are the Butch Cassidy room, which provides an outstanding walk through the story of his life and escapades (including his time as a resident of the prison), and the story of May Slosson who was the first female prison chaplain in America. And it's only $5 per person.

We did a self guided tour of the prison. Half the group was very interested in history and half were not. We all enjoyed it! If you do the self guided tour you can go as fast or slow as you want and there’s something to interest everyone. Lots of reading if you want to learn a lot, or you can just walk around and check out the prison. Well worth the small entry fee.

We stopped off locally and heard about this museum - so glad we went!!

It was so well organised and there was so much to see and learn about - we found the Butch Cassidy exhibit especially interesting as we got to learn about the entire story and his life etc.

The staff were helpful in the place and gave us some insight into the museum and its history.

If you have the time, definitely go!

If your in the area this is really a must visit. The guided tour is fantastic and the volunteers are incredibly knowledgeable. The building is restored beautifully the the history of the place is incredible.

This was a fun stop on a roadtrip through the city. The kids loved it and we enjoyed learning about the old prison, especially the Butch Cassidy exhibits. I recommend for a quick stop to stretch your legs and learn a little something new.

We were driving through Laramie on our way to the eclipse and were looking for something to do for a bit. This museum was awesome. Took the tour and learned so much about the history of the wild Wild West. The building is beautifully restored and kids under 11 are free.

We only had about 90 mins. to spend on these grounds but easily could have stayed 3 or 4 hours to read and experience it all fully. Highly interesting even for someone not from this state as they have good context to federal penitentiary history. Extremely well displayed and with the community restoration of the prison building it was fantastic to compare historical pictures with those of today. Well worth our time!

What a fun place to visit. I would recommend anyone to go and see this historic site. It's a great piece of history. The prison was very well preserved, and the caretakers have taken great care of the place. The self-tour was easy and understandable. We had a great time and would recommend it to anyone looking to see a bit of history.

This place is very interesting. It would have been a hard life, but then I don't think being in prison is necessarily much fun today. I was glad to read the background on Butch Cassidy, who seemed to be a gallant rogue to some, an sob to others.
The broom factory was worth the visit, and the two guys who were docents had very good information, including how to make your broom last more than a lifetime, so we bought one to bring h ome.
It's such a unique place that it's just worth visiting!

Great place to visit if you're a Butch Cassidy fan as he was held here at one time and the display covers his life and exploits ... even questions if he died as portrayed in the movie. Good displays in the other various prisoners and their lives.

We truly enjoyed this. We liked that you toured the prison at your own pace. It was filled with photos and interesting facts about the history of the prison and its inmates, including the infamous Butch Cassidy. The entrance fee was very reasonable and the site and grounds were clean and well maintained.

This was a great place to visit. We were here working from Louisiana and it was a very nice place to learn about a piece of Laramie's history. Very educational about the prison and why it was there. The best part was the Broom Factory. Shows how old fashion straw brooms were made and that the inmates made them to sell. Very worth our time and money😄

It was quite fascinating to go back in time to learn what prison life was like. I was actually surprised as to the conditions of the prison. It actually didn't seem that bad. I have been so some old jails in the south and this state prison was almost a hotel in comparison! They have done a great job restoring the buildings and exhibits to show conditions of life in prison. It is definitely worth a stop. They have a workshop which they make brooms like those of long ago. Great tour!

Stopped with my wife at Laramie while on our way down to Denver. Came across the territorial prison and decided to check it out. The place has a very old
Wild West feeling to it and the staff was very warm and welcoming. To tour the prison and surrounding areas are 5 dollars a person. You could easily spend at least an hour or two at the site. I don’t recommend driving long distances just to visit the prison but it is definitely worth a stop if you come across it on your travels.

Stopped here on our way back to Colorado from Mt Rushmore trip. Very interesting tour and well laid out. Worth the trip for the history. Bonus broom making tour too.

Butch Cassidy tie in was fun.

This was a very interesting and very informative tour. Although it is self guided, there is tons of history to learn. Really enjoyed it. We got there at 4:00 and they close at 5:00, so we had to rush through. I would go again if opportunity presents.

This was a neat place to visit and learn about the history of Butch Cassidy. If your in the area stop by and see how convicted men used to live.

Our family stopped here on the way home from Yellowstone. It's a great place to stop and stretch your legs while traveling on I-80. For $5.00 you can go through several buildings including the Warden's House, Prison, and Outbuilding where the prisoners worked. The Prison is very interesting and has a great display on Butch Cassidy. The volunteer guides are super helpful. So worth the price of admission.

Inexpensive activity for the whole family. Very friendly and knowledgeable staff. Lots of free parking.

Having been in Law Enforcement for over 30 years, I really enjoyed the history. We spent over 2 hours looking and reading. My wife kept saying we would never get out of there if we read everything. (I'm a much slower reader than my wife.)

The displays are well thought out. It is very obvious the differences in penal institutions now a days. It was much rougher in those days for the prisoners and guards alike.

I would visit the prison again if ever in the area.

This is a great place to take kids of all ages. We had ages from 8 to 37 and everyone loved it. Not a dark history like many prison museums but rather an interactive experience. Kids ask to stop every time we pass it. Will go back without hesitation.

A wonderful inexpensive detailed guided tour and a whole room Butch Cassidy exhibit. A must if you are in the area. Very limited tours, so make sure and check the times for the date you will be there.

Very well kept prison. We didn’t realize that Butch Cassidy was a “guest” here😁 We just toured on our own instead of waiting for one of the scheduled tours. They give you a detailed map that is easy to follow. We spent about 2 hrs here. It was nice to visit a place that wasn’t overrun with tourist. There is a small gift shop with some interesting items. Definitely worth a stop if you are in the Laramie area.

This was one of our favorite stops on our entire trip across six states. First, the lady that we paid and that provided us with information regarding the prison, her name was Deborah, she was extremely knowledgeable, and very friendly. She was fantastic!

The most interesting part to me was the old prison itself, and some of the original artifacts from the original prison. You’ll see pictures of the shape of the prison before it was restored, so while isn’t all original it’s very interesting and an important price of history.

A neat part of the tour is they provide each of you an inmate identity, you can read about your inmate on the card they give you or in the prison itself, and then at the end they provide more insight into the inmate they gave you. It makes a nice souvenir.

It was also interesting to know it’s the only prison to ever hold Butch Cassidy.

Nice gift shop, but I didn’t look at prices or spend much time looking at what they had. Overall a great stop, and very enjoyable and very reasonable entry fee.

This was an unexpected find. Noticed it as we drove into Laramie on the interstate and am so glad we stopped by. Admission is $5 per adult.
Spent about 2 hours here. Such a lot of history to read about . Many names you might remember from Hollywood films but brought to life when you see original photographs and real life accounts of actual happenings.
Didn't get time to walk around the wildlife area but this would be great for kids too.

A very enjoyable 2 hours was spent at the Wyoming Territorial Prison Site. Lots of history and buildings to entertain young and old. It is only $5,00 admission for adults and children under 12 are free.

My family and I stopped by while on vacation and did the self-guided tour. Everyone that worked there was very curteous, proffesional, and most importantly friendly. The woman that worked in the visitors' center in particular made us feel welcomed and was great while interacting with our toddlers. The site itself is very well preserved and provided us with a lot of interesting history. It's defintely worth stopping by if you're a history buff/fan of Butch Cassidy or simply are curious to know more about the Laramie area and Wyoming's early history.

very interesting and reasonable prices great information on Butch Cassidy and the hole in the wall gang and other local inmates

Great place to visit. Very hands on, great photos and displays. Didn't expect it to be so big or detailed but enjoyed every minute of the visit. Took a couple of hours to go through everything. Extremely interesting self guided tour. Also had the BITTERSWEET HARVEST, THE BRACERO PROGRAM 1942-1964 SMITHSONIAN TRAVELING EXHIBIT-it was very interesting. Guide was available to answer question. An extra plus to our visit.

Very interesting history albeit a bit gruesome. Lucas was my guide. He was very knowledgeable about the history and knew the stories about some of the more notorious inmates.

Much of the property is historical reconstruction. The interpretation displays do a good job of capturing the lore of the Old West although the Butch Cassidy exhibit is most intriguing. We stuck to the prison and the warden’s house and avoided the other replica buildings that were erected to showcase what the surrounding town might have been like.

A reasonably priced historical site. They have done a great job of restoring the prison, placing historically correct items within. There are profiles on the walls of those who stayed there for various reasons to give you a feel for the times. They have people in period costumes wandering the grounds there who are happy to answer questions . Gift shop has some interesting items. Really worth the stop.

This prison has so much history, it was very interesting. our guide was good and added a lot of stories about some of the folks that lived in the prison. It is worth the time.

The Wyoming Territorial Prison is a point of interest turned into a fascinating journey through not only penal policy but also the social circumstances of territorial Wyoming. The curators have done a marvelous job of bringing these topics to life.

As one example, each visitor is given a prisoner's identity. Armed with these identity cards, we were inspired to learn everything possible about our prisoners as we toured the prison. This added to the experience by creating a focal point for study of the exhibits.

The barn also had a wonderful quilt exhibit.

While there is currently a comprehensive exhibit about Butch Cassidy (and speculation as to where he may have ended his days), the thing that I found most interesting was the means by which the inmates' time was put to good use when possible... in this case, in the broom factory, which has the tools and supplies all set up with a video demonstration. Since it's a self-guided tour, one may experience this at whatever pace desired... I read all of the signs and other documentation, so it took me about 2.5 hours to fully experience the site.

What a surprise to walk into this old-time prison and be met with very contemporary displays and mammoth photos of the like of Butch Cassidy. Enjoyed especially reading about the gal felons who roamed this part of Wyoming. Fun for young and even us oldsters.

Stopped in on a complete whim when visiting a local who recommended a visit. Adult $7, kids under 10 and under free, so big time bang for the buck. The museum is staffed by friendly, knowledgeable, and informative staff who made an already interesting and informative visit even more rich and colorful. Guided and self guided tours as well as easy walkability make the tour convenient and easy for kids or those with limited mobility. Also good for the kids are hands-on opportunities with exhibits. This local treasure was almost lost to a cheap, commercialized water park in the 1990s, but the deal fell through and locals organized to have the location preserved. It's a fun visit that can be thoroughly experienced in under 2 hours and is highly recommended!

Very interesting museum with lots of great information on the life of an inmate. Maybe it was due to the time of year, but it was cold in there. The tour is on your own (no guides), and there is lots of signage telling you about the prison.

Stopped off here on the way to Denver to catch plane home to Uk. It is a well laid out extremely interesting museum. Gave one a real feel for the lives and hardships the prisoners endured. The cameo's of individual prisoners enlightened us to their lives and what had led them to be incarcerated. The Butch Cassidy exhibition was particularly enlightening as we all feel we "know" him because of the Holywood movie. The five dollar admission fee well worth it, I recommend it to people of all ages

It could have been better set up and the staff a little more knowledgeable. The prison was great with lots of information. Unfortunately there were many other exhibits that apparently were under construction and we couldn’t get in to see them. Wish we were giving that information before we started. Also didn’t think it was fair to charge the complete price for an incomplete venue.

We decided to go as a family when my daughter said she needed to go and write a paper about her experience. Turns out this is a great place, with awesome tour guides!
I wasn’t sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised by the tour.
If your in Laramie you need to check this tour out!

We really enjoyed this stop, especially my teenage boys. It was built in 1872. Great tour guide and you could walk back through it after your tour was over. Glad I didn't have to do any jail time here.

Includes many aspects of Wyoming history and actual relics and artifacts as well as cells, guns, and photos. Well worth the trip to see prison and
Various exhibits and related buildings.

Listed on the National Register, this impressive and imposing structure gave an interesting view of life of in a federal constructed territorial penitentiaries. The self guided tour along with the written pamphlet was quite informative. Definitely a must see attraction.

Much better than we expected, our amazing docent made it so much fun! The colorful stories of its prisoners, the tour of the cells, and the hands-on exhibit in the cafeteria made it great. My pictures of this amazing place turned out great.

Great place to visit, lots to see indoors & out. Informative staff, the old prison was the highlight although the university exhibits are interesting too. Definitely worth a stop if you’re driving through.

For a $5 entry fee, definitely worth a stop if passing by. Displays within the prison building - particularly the history of Butch Cassidy and the Wild Bunch - are terrific. Had a friendly chat with the staff in the broom manufacturing annex. Very enjoyable visit - Highly Recommended.

Our family thoroughly enjoyed our visit here. It was great for kids of all ages. Something for everyone. Highly recommend checking it out!

Easy access and plenty of parking, even for RV’s, well worth stopping and touring. To really see and read everything plan on at least an hour and a half. Multiple buildings to go thru but main prison is where you want to spend the most time

This is a nice self-guided tour. The price is more than reasonable ($5 per adult) and you go at your own pace. The write-ups are clear and informative. The Butch Cassidy exhibit is excellent.

Okay stop if you are interested of history. I liked Butch Cassidy exhibition most and stories of former inmates. Tickets were 5$ so it would go for a budget travelers too.

We spent two hours walking the prison, reading just about everything within it. The place is like a window into the soul of a certain slice of the old west. It took all types to make it in the wide wild wilderness of the west in the 19th century and the region had its share of shady characters. I found it fascinating that they made the inmates into workers because they needed money to keep the prison up but the federal government sent little to no funds to keep it going. The broom factory in the back of the prison is pretty amazing. There is also a special section dedicated to Butch Cassidy and his gang as well. Well worth the time. And, it's just off the interstate if you are passing through.

Who knew that a prison would be so interesting? This was nicely restored and had lots of information about some of the inmates and life in this prison An entire room was devoted to Butch Cassidy as he was a 'guest' here for a while. Really interesting place.

Well, I'm not sure if it was summer when he was here, but Robert Leroy Parker, better known as Butch Cassidy, spent a spell of time in the Ft. Laramie hoosegow as a young man. You really get a sense of how isolated and "rustic" things were in the Old West. While you're in Laramie, stop in at the Front Street Tavern for a cold one, then order one of the finest vegetarian/vegan meals you've ever had at the adjoining "Sweet Melissa's". Their green chile cashew queso will have you swearing there's cheese in it- but not a drop!

Spend a couple hours here, wandering through the prison and some of the out buildings. Nicely presented, with a room dedicated to the Hole in the Wall gang.... very informative, easy to view, great access to the actual cells, and the convict in the Broom factory making brooms was a great touch. Kids and adults can enjoy this piece of history.
Loved it!

With a couple of hours to kill on a Sunday morning, my wife suggested visiting this attraction. As usual, she was spot on. $5 admission is unusual but this does not reflect the quality of the site. Inside the two main wings is just like a miniature version of Alcatraz. The whole set up is excellent and because Butch Cassidy was incarcerated there, youngsters will find it fascinating. In addition to the actual prison, there are buildings showing the work assigned to prisoners. The broom making is amazing and the demonstration is excellent. We spent two hours there and wholeheartedly recommend this attraction.

I'm so lucky that my job takes me all over the world but, unfortunately, I rarely get to a small town like Laramie. However, fate took me there late last month and we had a GREAT time. The highlight of our trip was the Prison. Wow! I've been in museums on 4 continents and this place just blew me away.

First of all, the reconstruction is amazing. Somebody really went the extra mile and put in great effort to create a realistic 1872 Prison. Everything was just done so perfectly. I especially loved the giant photos of the prisoners and the accompanying synopses. Brilliant stuff. No detail was too small for the people behind this historic site!

But beyond the artifacts and restoration were the PEOPLE. The docents, especially those in costume, were great. Really great. Kudos to "Mrs. May Slosson." We had the nicest chat and learned so much. (Sorry, May, I'm still not for Prohibition!) Also a shout out to the Warden's Wife, Bobby the Guard and the Prisoner of the broom factory.

As an American, a history buff, a traveler, and a writer, I loved every aspect of this place. I cannot recommend it highly enough. I i wish there were 6 stars to give. LOL - also liked the gift shop!

Parked at the truckstop and walked over. The prison has been very well remodeled and is full of historacle stories. Admission was $5 but is worth $20.

We had 2 hours and enjoyed this time touring the prison. Small enough to cover it all. Enjoyed taking photos in the prison cells and the prison wagon outside the front door. Lots of good info hanging on the walls and the self tour guide worked perfectly. Butch Cassidy was captured and held here. Free parking, good value on the admission price, ok for kids and big kids. Really good gift store too - bought one of my fave beanies from the trip here, and challenge coins which we like to collect and give.

My husband and I visited the prison museum today. It was very interesting to learn of the history surrounding the facility and how the residents were managed during their sentence. The broom factory was interesting as well. The staff/volunteers were very informative. I would definitely recommend a visit to this museum.

An interesting excursion. To me, it was more of a 3 star attraction, as I’d recently been on a tour at Alcatraz, in San Francisco, which has an audio tour, beautiful views of the City from the island, a nice trip over the water via ferry, etc., and found that tour to be more impressive. Plus, we had to drive 3 hours each way to get to this attraction in Laramie, which I would not go out of my way to do again. But, if a fan of the wild west, interested in the history of the area, etc., or live within an hour or so of the area, then this is a worthwhile attraction to visit. We got here in the late afternoon, so there were no tours available at that time, and we had the self-guided version, which was by reading a lot of informational plaques. It was interesting information, but some of it was repetitive, and if you are one that tends to want to read every word, rather than skimming, it can take quite a while to get through, and can feel a bit stressful, especially if you have other people near you interrupting all the reading you are trying to get through. There is a room dedicated to Butch Cassidy who was at this prison for a short time on a minor charge, and there are separate buildings that show some of the chores they did, such as making brooms. There is some interesting history on their way of life at that time (anti-big business; a Robin Hood philosophy), what penitentiaries were originally set up to accomplish (reflection and becoming “penitent”and reformed), and some history of the women that were also held in this prison. If staying within an hour of this site, I’d give it closer to 4.5 stars, although I would prefer a guided tour, or an audio tour, as there is a lot of information to absorb. And, if you get there in the late afternoon, be aware that they will start turning some lights off within the last hour they are open, and seeing/reading the information becomes difficult. It would definitely be best to get there earlier to have better visibility and the time to read through the information without feeling rushed.

My husband and I enjoy watching crime shows on television so visiting here provided some insight into what criminals and crime solving was like during the wild west days. It was interesting reading what crimes had been committed and the length of incarceration for the crime. The tour is self guided however in the broom factory there are guides that explain the process of broom making and how the factory benefited the prison.

This is a really interesting place, taught us a lot about life in the late 1800's. The ticket price is only $5 - incredible value. It's open from 8am. The staff are great and happy to answer questions etc. Don't miss this!

We enjoyed learning more about the Wyoming Territorial Prison and some of it's famous prisoners. Most buildings are easy access and you can take your time and read everything in about two hours (self-guided). They do have guided tours every two hours. Since we arrived between tours, we just took the brochure and did self-guided. There is an elevator to reach the second floor of cells if you need it. All other buildings only have one to four stairs total. The entrance fee was $7 per person which is difficult to find in writing anywhere. And they have a nice little gift store to purchase prison attire, t-shirts, brooms, etc.

A number of buildings have been added to the site or moved to the site. They have set up a replica period "downtown" that you can view from the outside. You can go into one of the cabins and the church and buggy building. The barn was closed while we were there.

The gift shop has cold beverages and snacks for sale, but you cannot take them into the prison or other buildings, so purchase on your way out. There are restrooms in the prison (and not the old prison restrooms, but modern ones!).

Finally, if you want a longer walk, just outside the prison doors is a sign to a walking path/trail that is paved and flat and easy walking on a pretty day.

This was a wonderful place to visit. The tour guide provide wonderful information about the history of the prison. the exhibits were set up wonderfully.

This is, without doubt one of the best preserved examples of an Old West Prison

The State has done a magnificent job to inform, entertain and preserve.

The stories, the photos, the cells, The Boom Factory, The Guard Towers, all of these combine to make this a most enjoyable visit

Highly recommend a visit, it will not disappoint

This should be a must when you stay in Laramie. It's so well presented. We spent a couple of hours there

What an interesting place. We visited with our grandsons while on a road trip tour of the 'Old West'. It really helped set the stage for us. The boys enjoyed seeing the inside of the prison and being 'locked up'. It was a wonderful addition to our trip.

While I was in Wyoming, I wanted something to see in the state before hitting Colorado. I really enjoyed the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia and this seemed similar to it from the website and reviews, so we came here for a 2 hour visit. This is a federal penitentiary that operated in Wyoming in the late 1800s. It was well laid out with great descriptions. Lining the walls were stories of some of the prisoners and the crimes they committed. Compared to today, they got very little time for the crimes they committed. One of the most famous prisoners to ever be imprisoned here was Butch Cassidy. There was a room that went into more details on Butch Cassidy which was my favorite part of the visit. I never explored much into Butch Cassidy and this room gave a great history lesson on him. Outside of the prison, there is the warden's house, a workhouse to make brooms, some animal exhibition show house (a nearby university owned the prison area for some time and used it for this purpose), and a small village to show what life would have looked like in the 1800s. If you're ever touring Wyoming, I recommend a visit here. There is also a great gift shop.

The prison and grounds have been impeccably restored, and the guided tour was both interesting and informative. Even if there were more competition, this would be one of the best things to do in Laramie.

We were there on a day when we had to do a self-guided tour. The prison complex includes the prison,the broom factory, and the horse barn with interesting exhibits. All the buildings were well maintained. There were friendly volunteers in the prison who willingly answered our questions. My 9 year old grandson later told me he really enjoyed going there. That's about as good a recommendation as you can have. The cost was reasonable - $5 for adults Kids under 11 are free.

The Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site is more than a prison. Of course, the prison is the main thing to see with very good displays, and there is much to see with a very informative brochure to guide visitors. In addition to the prison are other structures including the prison industries, horse barn (now museum), and a frontier town with several historic structures. We spent 2 1/2 hours, but given more time and energy, we could have easily spent 3 - 4 hours.

Great presentation. Wardens house is nicely furnished. Prison is very informative and self quided tour well laid out. Takes 2 to 3 hours to go through. Definitely worth the visit.

Enjoyed looking through lots of prison exhibits, especially about Butch Cassidy. Great displays and descriptions. Gift shop has some very unique items including handmade brooms of various sizes and items made from WY license plates, made by prisoners to benefit prisoner families. Lots to see!

My family enjoyed the historical hour we spent during our self-guided tour. The employees working the prison as guards and prisoners were excellent in placing our minds as if it was currently happening. Wonderful pictures and stories inside the beautiful stone building that placed us back in time.

Informative museum with a lot to see in the different buildings on site. There are many descriptions of inmates and a separate exhibition on Butch Cassidy. You can easily spend two hours or more going through the exhibitions.

We had some time to kill, so we visited the prison. Unfortunately we missed the tour, which I am sure would have added to our visit. It's only $5 for admission. The surrounding property is interesting too.

My son is 7 and he had the best time. He loved learning about the history of the prisoners and seeing the old stuff. His favorite part was in the back where they make real straw brooms. There were some older women who volunteer and they were more than happy to show him how they were made and let him help. Honestly, they were so friendly and nice it made it such a better experience.

Wow, who would have thought such a place existed? If there was ever a great place to visit in Wyoming this has to be on your list. This museum sits just West of Laramie, parking is easy, and there is lots of room for running around. The exhibits are well laid out and informative. On top of all that who could resist the exhibit featuring Butch Cassidy, who on all accounts was a model prisoner during his incarceration? A real life glimpse into the penal system of the late 1800's through the early 20th century.

I took a self guided tour of the facility and enjoyed every minute. The property is very well maintained. It is so well maintained that I could almost imagine being a prisoner there. Worth the stop for any history lover especially if you like the Old West struggles between outlaws and lawmen. The gift shop was fun and the staff friendly and informative.

Very interesting visit to the prison in Laramie. Lots of history and the kids loved it. You get your own prisoner card that tells about what they were there for. Also the broom factory was very interesting.

Spent a out 2 hours walking around. Very educational and entertaining. Lots of information to read and they offer free tours but there is a entry fee but worth it. Nice gift shop

Lived here a while before visiting, but very glad I got around to it. This is a really nice restoration of a site that may not have been important to history but its cool that people cared enough to bring it back. The cell blocks are really well done and the literature does a good job of telling the story of the whole complex. You won't spend more than an hour here, but it will be memorable.

We drove 2 hours to tour the museum. According to their website they were open on 10/6. When we arrived chains were up and closed signs everywhere and signs saying winter hours begins 10/7. We saw a lady leaving a building and asked why was it closed a day earlier? She was very rude and when we explained we drove 2 hours, she commented “you really drove 2 hours to see this”? Then a mother with 4 children asked if they were open as she drove an hours. The lady who was the caretaker said “hold on I have to turn the lights on” . We were able to walk thru but not everything was on or open. It was worth the drive and we’re sorry we inconvenienced the caretaker but it was their websites mistake not our

Normally, touring an historic prison isn't on our top of the list when sightseeing; however, driving past it on our way to our hotel piqued our interest. It was a very educational and enlightening tour. There were just enough docents to fill in any blanks about the prison and life in the prison supplemented the signs posted everywhere. The gift shop had a wide variety of posters, t-shirts, jams and jellies, postcards, etc. at reasonable prices.

What a nice surprise. Lots to see and explore. It is a self guided tour, but the staff is friendly and very knowledgable.

Its well worth an hour or two of your time having a look around the Wyoming State prison. $9 each is good value. Get the walking tour map and wander around the buildings. We loved the Butch Cassidy museum & info as well.

While touring the old West prison, you learn about numerous inmates, including a dedicated areas to the female inmates and an in-depth look at Butch Cassidy, and learn about how the prison was run, from health care to work to decisions to release someone early. There was also interesting information about the first female chaplain, and for kids interested in archaeology, several highlights and small activities.
Probably the only time I am going to be in a old West prison so glad we took the time to check it out.

This is a very interesting place to visit. Great history and cool to walk around and see how they were living.

So glad that this example of an old prison has been preserved. The self-guided tour was rich with interesting history about incarceration in a late 1800's facility. Exhibits throughout the buildings show the realities of the life and work of a prisoner during this time. The grounds are beautiful and include other examples of life around Laramie.

Don't be like us - we thought 3 hours would be plenty of time to see the inside of an abandoned prison. WRONG for two reasons: (1) there are many other buildings besides the actual prison, and many have stuff to see inside; (2) there is a lot of history - especially outlaw history, duh - presented by many poster-sized photos of inmates with their individual stories, plus maps and some historic items. Oh yeah, there's also a guided tour you can take; I recommend it. And finally, there's a gift shop; my wife bought a book of old WANTED posters and has really been enjoying the colorful way outlaws used to be described!

Pro Tip: bug spray. Mosquitos made us miserable until we used it.

As part of the Wyoming Parks, it's extremely reasonable ($5), and the volunteers that work there are knowledgeable and truly interested in sharing. The new Butch Cassidy
exhibit is awesome.

We decided to stop here after going to the visitor center in town. The lady there gave us a $1 off coupon, so it only cost $9 for the 2 of us. The building is well maintained with good signage. There is a stagecoach in front so you can take a picture of a prisoner inside it, ha ha. The prison industries building as interesting, sowing how the convicts made brooms, with original equipment.

We stopped here on a road trip and enjoyed it! There was role playing by volunteers (a sheriff, prisoner, warden's wife, and chaplain). The prisoner tried to escape and the kids thought that was fun. The chaplain talked to us like she was in the late 1800s and explained a lot of every day things that went on in the prison. The broom factory was very interesting as well. You should stop!

This is a hidden gem. Not only does this site do a great job telling the story of the prison, the men and women who spent time there, and their famous residents, it also contains a church, homestead cabins, an 'old west' town, and an exhibit on the University test farm. Truly a multi-faceted and empathetic approach to those incarcerated and good example of the Auburn System at work.

This (in my opinion) is one of the major attractions in Laramie - in fact, I would say it is fabulous. Worth a stop - you might spend an hour+. Has a good selection of books in its shop

One of the best laid out museums of any kind that I've been to. Only one problem for "old" people--there needs to be an occasional bench to sit and read the interesting material!

It was really cool. I love history and I love teaching my children. The importance of it. I brought 2 13-year-olds and they thought it was the coolest place ever. I did not expect so much content. We could’ve spent another two hours there. After we left, the rest of my family told us that we missed a whole section on Butch Cassidy. When we go back, I’ll definitely stop in again.

We've been to Laramie WY many times and have seen the Penitentiary listed in various guides. We finally got to visit and take the tour this past weekend. What an amazing site. Our tour guide Barb made our time so enjoyable - such a great storyteller and historian. I'd recommend this to anyone with even a slight interest in history.

It was very easy to get too, in a nice location! So much information in one space! Definitely a must see! The hold town looking area doesn’t disappoint!

We took a guided tour and learned who stayed there, where they slept and ate, and what jobs they had while in prison. The buildings are now operated and maintained by Wyoming State Parks. One room is dedicated to Butch Cassidy, who was a model prisoner, and never spent time behind bars after being released. He was a model prisoner, not a model citizen! Men had jobs, many utilizing skills they had before prison (cook, carpenter, furniture maker, dentist), and were released from their cells during daytime hours. Women were not permitted to work and spent their days in a part of the prison separate from the men.

My husband, kids and I went to this tour. It was a low cost family event that kept us busy for a good 3 hrs. Very interesting facts, sight seeing and it was great to talk to all the volunteers who work there. My kids are 17, 14 and 10 and they had a great time. A map of the entire grounds is offered with details as to what each room/space was used for. There was some hands on experiences and lots of facts displayed everywhere. I would recoomend this to anyone.

We stopped in at the end of May, mid afternoon, it is very easy to access from interstate and ample parking.
We found the place worth a visit and everything was very clean. You can view prison cells, and was a very enjoyable visit. Sadly when signing the visitors book I laid down my sunglasses and mislaid them. We went back to search but could not find and no one handed them in which was disappointing as they were Oakley Juliet's which can not be replaced. Perhaps the perfect place for them to go missing !!!!!!

The site is very impressive as we drove by a couple times to hiking trailheads. I wanted to stop, and the timing worked out. I have to say that it is very impressive. The restoration is fantastic and the history can keep you reading all day (we didn't but you could). The prison itself is very interesting and well done. Then there is a prison workshop, still used by non-prisoners to make brooms. There is a to be finished old town area, and a history of farm science. Very impressive.