Missouri State Penitentiary

[4] James Dunnica, a master stonemason who built the first Capitol building in Jefferson City in 1826, was appointed to oversee construction of the new prison, and $25,000 was allotted by the legislature for expenses.

Eleven of the fifteen prisoners were from St. Louis, and all were incarcerated for larceny except for one, who was imprisoned for stabbing a man during a drunken brawl.

Seven hundred and fifty prisoners in the same institution struck yesterday, following on the refusal of their demand for grilled meat instead of the continual Irish stew, and refused to leave the dining hall, though they were subsequently persuaded to disperse peaceably by the Governor.

The Governor announced tonight that he had discovered an organised plot among the convicts responsible for to-day's riots to set fire to the prison factories and make their escape.

The Irish Times, March 28th, 1930.On the evening of September 22, 1954, there was a major riot at the Missouri State Penitentiary.

[8] In the summer of 1996, the Missouri State Penitentiary was experiencing a lot of tension between officers and convicts.

This was also the year that the official job classification for custody staff was changed from "guard" to "correctional officer".

In less than fifteen years after beginning as a guard, he became warden of the Missouri State Penitentiary during the most turbulent time in its history.

Inmate Toby Viles was murdered by two offenders that worked with him in the prison's ice plant.

Inmate Christopher Sims was also present in the Ice Plant during the time of the murder, but has yet to stand trial.

After a legal challenge, the Missouri Department of Corrections began to use an internal death row classification system with privileges awarded by behavior, changed the medical services delivery procedures, and provided a "privacy room" where death row inmates could attend religious services.

The Missouri State Penitentiary was closed on October 14, 2004, and the new Jefferson City Correctional Center was opened.

The Missouri State Penitentiary Museum is located in the Col. Darwin W. Marmaduke House across Capitol Avenue from the Prison.

[12] The Travel Channel's television show Destination Fear filmed at the location for the second episode of their third season.