Missouri State Penitentiary

10/13/2026

Share this with your fellow spooky-season lover 👻

10/12/2026

Check out this colorized version of the changing of the guard in 1940, featuring the old-style guard towers.

Changing of the Guard at Missouri State Penitentiary, Jefferson City, Missouri
(May 1940)

High above the stone walls of the Missouri State Penitentiary in Jefferson City, two guards are photographed during a changing of the guard 86 years ago.

One guard stands atop a long wooden ladder while another waits near the elevated guard station. The castle-like stone tower, complete with battlements, was part of the imposing architecture of one of America’s oldest prisons.

Established in 1836, the Missouri State Penitentiary opened its doors the same year the Battle of the Alamo took place in Texas. For generations, its massive stone walls separated thousands of inmates from the outside world.

By 1940, the prison had already been operating for more than a century. Guard duty was serious business, and the men assigned to watch the walls were responsible for preventing escapes and maintaining security around the clock.

The photograph was taken by John Vachon, a photographer whose work documenting American life during the Great Depression and World War II years is preserved by the Library of Congress.

Over the decades, the penitentiary became known for its notorious inmates, harsh conditions, and the deadly 1954 prison riot that brought national attention to Jefferson City.

After 168 years of operation, the Missouri State Penitentiary finally closed in 2004. Today, portions of the historic prison complex remain standing, and visitors can tour the grounds where generations of guards and prisoners once spent their days.

It’s remarkable how an ordinary moment, two men changing shifts on a spring day in 1940, can become such a fascinating glimpse into Missouri history.

Photograph: John Vachon, May 1940, Library of Congress, Farm Security Administration/Office of War Information Collection. Colorized by us. Original in comments

10/08/2026

Missed your chance to book a Ghost Tour this spooky season? You can always check back for possible openings as cancellations do occur that make those spaces available again!

🎟: MissouriPenTours.com
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10/07/2026

Have you booked your 2026 tour yet? Tour season concludes at the end of November, so snag your spot while there's still time. Don't forget - we also offer select tours during the week!

🗝️: MissouriPenTours.com

10/02/2026

It's officially spooky season! 👻

October's Friday and Saturday ghost tours have limited availability, but don't forget that we also offer tours on Sunday, Monday, and Wednesday evenings throughout the week!

🗝️: MissouriPenTours.com
📷:

09/25/2026

Still want some spooky fun? We’ve got limited spots left for 2-Hour Ghost Tours and 3-Hour Ghost Hunts! They go fast so book your tour now.⛓

MissouriPenTours.com

09/22/2026

Around 6:30 on the evening of September 22, 1954, two inmates feigned illness to attract the attention of two guards. When the guards entered the hall to investigate, they were overpowered and their keys were stolen. The two inmates then bolted out of their cell and ran along the cell block, releasing others as they went, and a riot broke out.

When the authorities regained control, four inmates were dead, as many as fifty were injured and one had attempted su***de. Four officers had been injured. Burned-out hulks of several buildings lay smoldering, and damage was estimated to be as high as $5 million dollars. No prisoners had escaped.

Read more about the 1954 riot at missouripentours.com/history.

09/18/2026

There's still time to reserve your spot on this weekend's tour with a former inmate! Beginning at 2 p.m. on Saturday, September 19th, this three-hour tour sheds light on what life was like behind the walls of MSP.

MissouriPenTours.com

09/15/2026

On Wednesday, September 15, 2004, 1,355 inmates were moved from the Missouri State Penitentiary to the new Jefferson City Correctional Center east of town, decommissioning the MSP. The penitentiary had served as the oldest prison west of the Mississippi for 168 years.

09/09/2026

🚨🚨There are still some spots at the “These Walls Still Talk” event September 12th! This includes an over night investigation alongside author, Brian Paone, who wrote “These Walls Still Talk”! You won’t want to miss it! Grab them while they last.

Make your reservation at MissouriPenTours.com/product/overnight-investigation-with-msp-staff/