Prison is never a pleasant place to be, but the experience is bound to be more unsettling when there are rumors of ghosts around. Throughout the few hundred years of America’s history, there have been many stories of haunted prisons across the country that have captivated people’s attention for decades. Many of the prisons even offer tours for curious paranormal fans. For those of you who would rather keep the ghosts at arm’s length, A-EZ Bail Bonds has a list of some of the most haunted prisons for you to check out:
Alcatraz
One of the most famous of America’s prisons because of its unique way of committing to making it almost impossible to escape: the prison, nicknamed “the Rock,” is located on an island a mile and a half from the coast of San Francisco. Originally opened as a military prison in 1859, Alcatraz was also home to some of American history’s most notorious gangsters: Al Capone, George “Machine Gun” Kelly, Doc Barker, and many other infamous criminals.
The prison’s location made escape nearly impossible, and though several attempts were made, almost all of them ended in capture or death. Though the prison shut down for good in 1963, Alcatraz remains a popular tourism destination, run by the National Park Service. To this day, visitors and staff members have reported ghost sightings, screams, weeping, and even banjo music- which is said to have been a favorite pastime of Al Capone during his time there.
Eastern State Penitentiary
Only about 50 years yonder than America itself, the Eastern State Penitentiary was known for its use of solitary confinement. This prison was built by Quakers who believed that solitude would enhance the prisoners’ inclination to heal and reform themselves, but many of its inmates who experienced solitary confinement were eventually driven insane. Prisoners were kept separated, the building muffled all noises, and even the guards weren’t permitted to speak. Infractions were punished severely, and suicides were common.
Although the long-term solitary confinement of the prison ended in 1913, the prison remained a place of extreme punishment and discomfort until it closed completely in the 1970s. Since then, ghost sightings and paranormal encounters- including hearing footsteps, seeing shadowy figures and faces on the cell walls, and maniacal cackles- have been heavily reported.
Missouri State Penitentiary
Another famous prison to have an ominous nickname, “The Walls” was built in the 1830s with bricks made by its first prisoners and only recently shut down in 2004.
The Missouri State Penitentiary’s long history, which includes 3 deadly riots as well as over 40 executions, coupled with stories of its famous inmates (including gangster Charles “Pretty Boy” Floyd, James Earl Ray (who assassinated Martin Luther King, Jr.), kidnappers and murderers Carl Austin Hall and Bonnie Heady, and others) created the perfect foundation for ghost stories that would lead The Walls to become known as “the bloodiest 47 acres in America,” as well as one of its most haunted prisons.
Paranormal activity is heavy there, and visitors can get tickets to ghost tours as well as book time to go on their own ghost hunt- the Missouri State Penitentiary even has a ghost hunting class you can enroll in.
Call A-EZ Out Bail Bonds For A Quick Release
Even if you aren’t facing time in one of America’s most haunted prisons, jail is no fun place to spend the night. If you find yourself in legal trouble and facing jail time, call A-EZ Out Bail Bonds to get released in a timely manner. Regain your freedom fast with A-EZ Out Bail Bonds, we can secure your speedy release.