SPOILER ALERT! THIS POST CONTAINS PHOTOS AND DETAILS OF KINGSTON PENITENTIARY AND IT’S MUSEUM. IF YOU PLAN ON SEEING KINGSTON PENN AND DON’T WANT ANY DETAILS RUINED FOR YOURSELF STOP READING NOW! 

The Kingston Museum is located between Kingston Penitentiary and Kingston Prison for Women at the old warden’s house. 

This place is “free”, they ask for a donation to enter but it’s really up to you. There’s lovely workers at the front who tell you about it and after that you’re free to roam at your pleasure. 

The museum is literally just amazing things from the Penn. from the beginning to the end. 

The bell (above) was the hub of the prison. This bell rang 100 times a day, it was the one thing that told you what to do, at what time of the day to do it. Now the Bell is broken, that’s because during one of the 3 riots they broke it and I don’t blame them. 

Above are old keys that the guards had to use to open and close all the doors until they updated the prison. These keys were massive and heavy, at some point in the museum there’s a small area where you get to turn one of the keys in a lock. It took some effort to do and it was loud. 

Above is an old cell back in the 1800’s. There was enough room for their beds, during the day they would lift their beds and lean it against the wall so they had “walking” room. I’m 5′ 3 and your average size, I would have trouble fitting in this cell,I couldn’t imagine being in there. The cell you see now at the Penn are two of the old 1800 ones combined. 

Above is a picture of shanks taken from Millhaven from 2004-2008. Millhaven is the prison that still runs in Kingston. It’s amazing to look at and see how they make them. 

Above is art from an inmate, can you figure out what it says? There was a bunch of art which was amazing, there was some talent locked up. 

My finally picture for this post in the stone that the prison was made of. The inmates actually built the prison while they were serving their sentence. The work they did was amazing, which you will come to see in a future post! 

Stay turned for more about my Kingston Penn trip! 

Thanks for reading,

Maeg.