For a hundred and seventy-five years, the towers of the historic Iowa State Penitentiary held court at Fort Madison. The large maximum security prison had a storied history – one with a lot of blood along the way. From prison riots to executions, is it any surprise that many people feel there’s something haunting about the old prison? Today, the prison has moved and the old facility stands abandoned – which means it’s open for tours. Is the penitentiary haunted? Dare you find out for yourself?
Today, the penitentiary is a popular tourist site in Fort Madison. You can regularly see cheerful tourists lined up outside.
Historic Fort Madison Penitentiary/Facebook
However, anyone who approaches can easily see traces of the place it used to be - starting with the mighty stone walls covered with barbed wire to prevent any escapes.
City of Fort Madison, Iowa
Founded in 1939, the prison used to be more of a fortress; it used to hold some of the most dangerous people in the Hawkeye State for close to two centuries.
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
The guards at the historic prison were used to guarding the worst of the worst - and oversaw forty executions over the decades. The prison was also the site of a bloody riot and standoff in 1981.
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
Today, the inmates have all been transferred - which means the only people walking the cell blocks are those who manage to get on one of the tours.
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
The abandoned prison has many remnants of the old days, including unique graffiti stylings left behind by inmates from decades past.
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
But many sites in the prison hold a darker history. The massive auditorium, which might not look much different from a high school’s, once held hundreds of prisoners.
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
The guard tower, which still overlooks the prison but has fallen into disrepair, was the site of tense negotiations during the infamous prison riot.
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
The deeper you go inside the prison, the darker and more foreboding it gets. This is where tourists often insist they can still hear something moving around inside the haunted grounds.
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
The tours are during the daytime - but anyone who finds themselves exploring the prison during the night would likely find a much different - and more terrifying - experience.
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
Take a look and listen to some video and audio footage taken on a rare tour of the penitentiary - what do you think? Are there spirits trying to tell us something?
Historic Fort Madison Penitentiary/Facebook
City of Fort Madison, Iowa
Historic Iowa State Penitentiary/Facebook
Take a look and listen to some video and audio footage taken on a rare tour of the penitentiary - what do you think? Are there spirits trying to tell us something?
If you’ve toured the penitentiary, let us know if its haunted past made an impression on you in the comments section. If you’re interested in taking the tour for yourself or exploring the larger Fort Madison area, make sure to visit the city website.
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Address: Historic Iowa State Penitentiary, #3 John Bennett Dr, Fort Madison, IA 52627, USA
The OIYS Visitor Center
More haunted places in Iowa January 30, 2023 Chris Muras Can you tour the Iowa State Penitentiary? The penitentiary has had tours in the past but does not do so on a regular basis. The last set of tours was in 2018, but there has been no announcement of planned tours since then. What are some haunted places in Iowa? It seems anywhere tragedy strikes there is potential for spirits to linger with cries of help. There are definitely haunted Iowa places to explore, from haunted roads, buildings, bridges, and of course cemeteries. Here are a few haunted places in Iowa to give you the creepy crawlies:
Stony Hollow Road, Burlington, IA: The most haunted road in Iowa is Stoney Hollow Road. In the 1800s a woman was waiting for her husband, and when he didn’t show up on time she assumed he was with another woman - she climbed a cliff and jumped to her death. He arrived shortly after - his wagon had been stuck in the mud. Lincoln High School, Des Moines, IA: Flashing lights, cold spots, banging chairs, curtains rustling without a breeze, these are some of the paranormal experiences you might notice at Lincoln High School… Dowling Catholic High School, West Des Moines, IA: It seems ghosts sure do love hanging around old schools in Iowa. At this one strange purple orbs have been seen floating around the school. Merle Hay Mall Tower, Des Moines, IA: Des Moines is a hot spot for paranormal activity, and the Merle Hay Mall Tower sits on the very same spot where an old monastery was. It is said that the occasional nun would become pregnant and have a miscarriage - the babies were buried in unmarked graves on the grounds. At the Merle Hay Mall Tower, a ghostly woman in a habit carries her dead child around the halls.
The OIYS Visitor Center
More haunted places in Iowa
January 30, 2023
Chris Muras
Can you tour the Iowa State Penitentiary? The penitentiary has had tours in the past but does not do so on a regular basis. The last set of tours was in 2018, but there has been no announcement of planned tours since then. What are some haunted places in Iowa? It seems anywhere tragedy strikes there is potential for spirits to linger with cries of help. There are definitely haunted Iowa places to explore, from haunted roads, buildings, bridges, and of course cemeteries. Here are a few haunted places in Iowa to give you the creepy crawlies:
Stony Hollow Road, Burlington, IA: The most haunted road in Iowa is Stoney Hollow Road. In the 1800s a woman was waiting for her husband, and when he didn’t show up on time she assumed he was with another woman - she climbed a cliff and jumped to her death. He arrived shortly after - his wagon had been stuck in the mud. Lincoln High School, Des Moines, IA: Flashing lights, cold spots, banging chairs, curtains rustling without a breeze, these are some of the paranormal experiences you might notice at Lincoln High School… Dowling Catholic High School, West Des Moines, IA: It seems ghosts sure do love hanging around old schools in Iowa. At this one strange purple orbs have been seen floating around the school. Merle Hay Mall Tower, Des Moines, IA: Des Moines is a hot spot for paranormal activity, and the Merle Hay Mall Tower sits on the very same spot where an old monastery was. It is said that the occasional nun would become pregnant and have a miscarriage - the babies were buried in unmarked graves on the grounds. At the Merle Hay Mall Tower, a ghostly woman in a habit carries her dead child around the halls.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
The penitentiary has had tours in the past but does not do so on a regular basis. The last set of tours was in 2018, but there has been no announcement of planned tours since then.
What are some haunted places in Iowa?
It seems anywhere tragedy strikes there is potential for spirits to linger with cries of help. There are definitely haunted Iowa places to explore, from haunted roads, buildings, bridges, and of course cemeteries. Here are a few haunted places in Iowa to give you the creepy crawlies:
- Stony Hollow Road, Burlington, IA: The most haunted road in Iowa is Stoney Hollow Road. In the 1800s a woman was waiting for her husband, and when he didn’t show up on time she assumed he was with another woman - she climbed a cliff and jumped to her death. He arrived shortly after - his wagon had been stuck in the mud.
- Lincoln High School, Des Moines, IA: Flashing lights, cold spots, banging chairs, curtains rustling without a breeze, these are some of the paranormal experiences you might notice at Lincoln High School…
- Dowling Catholic High School, West Des Moines, IA: It seems ghosts sure do love hanging around old schools in Iowa. At this one strange purple orbs have been seen floating around the school.
- Merle Hay Mall Tower, Des Moines, IA: Des Moines is a hot spot for paranormal activity, and the Merle Hay Mall Tower sits on the very same spot where an old monastery was. It is said that the occasional nun would become pregnant and have a miscarriage - the babies were buried in unmarked graves on the grounds. At the Merle Hay Mall Tower, a ghostly woman in a habit carries her dead child around the halls.
