Deer Lodge Montana

After leaving Wallace Idaho on Monday we arrived here later in the day. 

Mel looking at the mountains in Deer Lodge Montana.

After waiting for a couple of days for the winds to die down it was time to go to prison. The prison was begun in 1870 as a territorial prison and then became a state prison in 1889 when Montana was admitted to the union. It served until 1979 when a new facility was built 5 miles west of town.

Mel didn't have to go to prison and waited patiently for my return outside the walls.

This explains the history of the prison.

Looking down the long, high wall, the cell blocks are on the right.

About the yard.

This was the recreation area or yard where the prisoners got some fresh air.

 The original cell house was destroyed after an earthquake in 1959, but the remaining cell block was built on the same dimensions. A nice room six feet wide and eight feet long.

This is the west cell block.

And the east cell block, three tiers high.

I will say that the Montana State prison was a nice plce to visit, but I really didn't want to stay. Tomorrows pictures will be of the auto museum which was next door to the prison and then we will be caught up and ready to travel again. Today we are going to sit back and enjoy the good life.