Museum of Colorado Prisons – Haunted Prison Museum in Cañon City, Colorado

The Museum of Colorado Prisons stands as a chilling testament to 140 years of incarceration and punishment. Located just blocks from the still-operating Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility, this former women’s prison holds stories of violence, despair, and lingering spirits.

Visitors and staff report overwhelming feelings of sadness and anger throughout the building’s corridors. Shadow figures dart between cells while disembodied voices echo through empty hallways at night.

The museum displays authentic prison artifacts including execution equipment and solitary confinement cells. These objects carry their own dark energy according to paranormal investigators who’ve studied the location.

Former inmates who died within Colorado’s prison system seem unable to leave this place. Their presence manifests through unexplained phenomena that both fascinates and terrifies those who encounter it.

Historical Background

The building housing the museum was constructed in 1935 as the Colorado State Penitentiary Women’s Correctional Facility. Female inmates lived within these walls until the facility relocated in 1968 to another location.

After the women’s prison closed, the building transformed into a museum in 1988. Volunteers and local historians gathered artifacts from Colorado’s 36 correctional facilities spanning back to 1871.

The museum’s collection includes items from Old Max, Colorado’s most notorious supermax prison. Cell doors, restraints, weapons confiscated from inmates, and personal belongings tell stories of life behind bars.

Among the most disturbing exhibits is a fully functional gas chamber from the 1930s. This chamber executed several condemned prisoners before Colorado moved to lethal injection in the 1990s.

Riots, murders, and suicides marked Colorado’s prison history throughout the decades. The 1929 riot at the Colorado State Penitentiary resulted in multiple deaths and widespread destruction.

Inmates crafted elaborate escape plans within these prison walls over the years. Some succeeded in breaking free while others died in their desperate attempts at freedom.

Paranormal Activity Summary

Cold spots appear suddenly in specific cells throughout the museum without any logical explanation. These temperature drops can be 20 degrees colder than surrounding areas within seconds.

Electronic devices malfunction frequently inside the building despite fresh batteries and proper maintenance. Cameras drain completely while recording near the solitary confinement cells on the main floor.

Shadow figures move along the cell block walls when no one is present. Security footage has captured dark shapes passing through solid doors and moving against natural light sources.

Disembodied voices speaking in angry tones echo through empty corridors after closing time. Staff members working late report hearing arguments and shouting when they’re alone in the building.

Objects move on their own accord throughout various exhibits in the museum. Handcuffs swing without air movement and cell doors creak open despite being locked securely.

Visitors often feel invisible hands touching their shoulders or tugging at their clothing. These physical manifestations occur most frequently in the area housing death row artifacts and personal belongings.

The overwhelming feeling of being watched follows guests through their entire visit. Many people report an oppressive heaviness settling over them as they move deeper into the facility.

Ghost Stories & Reports

Edward O’Kelley haunts the museum with particular intensity according to multiple witness accounts. O’Kelley murdered the infamous outlaw Robert Ford before landing in Colorado’s prison system in 1892.

O’Kelley served time for Ford’s murder before his release in 1902. His violent spirit allegedly lingers near the exhibit featuring artifacts from Colorado’s early territorial prison days.

Visitors report seeing a tall male figure in outdated prison clothing near the Wild West section. This apparition matches historical descriptions of O’Kelley who stood over six feet tall with a distinctive mustache.

The ghost of an unidentified female inmate appears in what was once the women’s cell block. She materializes as a translucent figure in a gray prison dress from the 1940s era.

Witnesses describe her expression as one of profound sadness and resignation. She’s been seen sitting on the edge of bunks or standing at cell windows staring outward.

Staff members have heard a woman crying softly during late evening hours. The sobbing sounds come from empty cells and stop abruptly when anyone investigates the source.

Anton Woode’s presence permeates the area displaying his personal effects and prison records. Woode was executed in Colorado’s gas chamber in 1967 for a brutal murder conviction.

His energy manifests as anger and hostility toward male visitors specifically. Men report feeling pushed or experiencing sudden chest pressure when standing near Woode’s photograph and case files.

The spirit of an unknown correctional officer walks the prison yard replica outside. Multiple visitors have photographed a uniformed figure that doesn’t appear to be flesh and blood.

This phantom guard seems to be making his rounds as if still on duty. He appears most frequently during early morning hours before the museum officially opens to visitors.

Children who visit the museum often report seeing a young boy in the corner. No records exist of children being incarcerated at this specific facility during its operational years.

The boy appears to be around eight years old and wears clothing from the 1950s. He vanishes when adults approach or when children try to interact with him directly.

Most Haunted Spot

Cell Number Seven in the main cell block exhibits the most concentrated paranormal activity. This particular cell housed multiple inmates who committed suicide or were murdered by fellow prisoners.

Visitors who enter this cell report immediate feelings of panic and claustrophobia. The atmosphere inside grows thick and breathing becomes difficult for sensitive individuals.

Electronic equipment fails completely when brought into Cell Number Seven. EMF detectors spike to maximum readings while temperature gauges show dramatic fluctuations within seconds.

The solitary confinement cells near the rear of the building rank as a close second. Inmates spent weeks or months in complete darkness within these tiny concrete spaces measuring only five feet wide.

People who enter solitary confinement report hearing scratching sounds on the walls. Feelings of desperation and madness overwhelm visitors forcing many to exit within minutes of entering.

Can You Visit?

The Museum of Colorado Prisons welcomes visitors year-round with regular operating hours. The facility operates as a fully legitimate museum open to the general public daily.

General admission costs eight dollars for adults and six dollars for seniors and children. Children under six years old receive free entry when accompanied by a paying adult.

Self-guided tours allow visitors to explore at their own pace during daylight hours. Knowledgeable volunteers stationed throughout the museum answer questions and provide historical context for exhibits.

Special paranormal investigation tours occur on select Friday and Saturday evenings throughout the year. These after-hours events require advance registration and fill up quickly due to high demand.

Photography is permitted and encouraged throughout the entire museum facility. Many visitors capture unexplained anomalies, orbs, and shadow figures in their photos and videos.

Regular operating hours run from 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM Wednesday through Sunday. The museum closes on Mondays and Tuesdays except during summer months when it operates daily.

Best Time to Visit

Paranormal activity intensifies significantly during evening hours after the museum closes to regular visitors. The overnight investigation tours between 8:00 PM and 2:00 AM capture the most documented phenomena.

October through December produces the highest concentration of reported supernatural encounters. Staff members theorize that the darker months and Halloween season somehow amplify the existing spiritual energy.

Early morning hours before 10:00 AM also generate numerous reports from staff members opening the building. Figures appear in locked rooms and objects are found moved from their designated display positions.

The anniversary dates of notable executions see increased activity according to long-term volunteers. Sensitive visitors report feeling overwhelmed during these specific dates throughout the year.

First-Hand Accounts & Eyewitness Reports

Museum curator Jane Williams documented her first paranormal encounter in 1995. She arrived early one morning to find all the cell doors standing open despite locking them herself the previous evening.

Williams heard heavy footsteps walking above her head on the second floor. No one else had keys to the building and the security system showed no unauthorized entry.

Volunteer guide Robert Martinez experienced physical contact from an unseen entity in 2008. Something grabbed his arm forcefully while he stood alone in the death row exhibit area.

Martinez reported feeling five distinct fingers grip his bicep through his jacket. Bruises in the shape of fingerprints appeared on his arm within hours of the incident.

Tourist Sarah Chen captured a full-bodied apparition in her photographs during a 2015 visit. The figure appeared in three consecutive shots taken seconds apart in Cell Number Seven.

Chen’s photos clearly show a translucent man in prison stripes standing in the cell’s corner. Professional photo analysis confirmed the images hadn’t been digitally manipulated or doctored in any way.

Local paranormal investigator David Thompson recorded compelling EVP evidence during a 2019 investigation. His audio equipment captured a gravelly voice saying “get out” in the solitary confinement section.

Thompson’s team also documented unexplained footsteps and door slamming on their recording devices. Multiple investigators witnessed shadow figures moving independently of any light sources during their overnight investigation.

Paranormal Investigations & Findings

The Rocky Mountain Paranormal Research Society conducted extensive investigations here between 2010 and 2018. Their team documented over 300 separate paranormal incidents during 47 overnight investigation sessions.

Temperature anomalies appeared consistently in specific locations throughout their multi-year study. Cell Number Seven and the gas chamber exhibit produced the most dramatic environmental fluctuations.

Ghost Adventures featured the Museum of Colorado Prisons during their 2013 season. Host Zak Bagans and his crew captured compelling evidence including disembodied voices and shadow figures.

During their investigation, crew member Aaron Goodwin was scratched by an unseen force. Three distinct claw marks appeared on his back while filming in the maximum security exhibit area.

The Paranormal Files YouTube channel investigated the location in 2020 with over two million views. Their equipment malfunctioned repeatedly and captured several unexplained audio phenomena throughout the night.

Investigators consistently report feeling drained and exhausted after spending time inside the museum. The oppressive atmosphere seems to feed off living energy according to sensitive team members.

Safety Warnings & Legal Restrictions

The museum building contains original prison infrastructure including concrete floors and metal fixtures. Visitors should watch their step and avoid touching sharp edges on authentic cell bars and equipment.

People with claustrophobia should exercise caution when entering the solitary confinement cells. These cramped spaces can trigger anxiety attacks and panic responses in susceptible individuals.

After-hours paranormal investigations require signed liability waivers due to the building’s age and structure. Participants must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by a legal guardian.

The museum’s proximity to the active Colorado Territorial Correctional Facility requires visitor awareness. Never wander beyond the museum property or attempt to approach the functioning prison facility.

Cursed or Haunted Objects

The gas chamber remains the most spiritually active object in the entire museum collection. Multiple sensitive visitors report feeling nauseous and dizzy when standing near this execution device.

The chair inside the chamber contains residual energy from the men who died there. Photographs taken of the chamber frequently show unexplained mists and light anomalies surrounding the seat.

A handmade knife confiscated from inmate Thomas Lake in 1978 carries negative energy. Lake murdered three fellow inmates with this weapon before correctional officers subdued him during the violent incident.

Visitors who touch the display case containing Lake’s knife report immediate feelings of rage. Several people have experienced violent thoughts and had to step away from the exhibit quickly.

The hangman’s noose from Colorado’s territorial prison days emanates a palpable heaviness. This rope ended the lives of 23 convicted criminals between 1890 and 1933.

Museum staff avoid handling this particular artifact whenever possible due to its disturbing effect. Those who’ve touched it report nightmares and feelings of suffocation lasting for days afterward.