Minnesota Territorial Prison
Encyclopedia
The Minnesota Territorial Prison, later known as the Minnesota State Prison, was a prison
in Stillwater, Minnesota
, operated from 1853 - 1914. Construction of the prison began in 1851, shortly after Minnesota
became a territory . The historic site, long since unused, was destroyed by arson
on September 3, 2002 The prison was replaced by the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater in nearby Bayport
.
The prison was well-known because it once housed the Younger Brothers (Cole
, Bob
, and Jim
), members of notorious outlaw Jesse James
' gang.
Today, the prison site has been converted to the large condominium
project "Terra Springs".
was built in Bayport
, just south of Stillwater. After that, it continued to house deputy wardens and superintendents of the prison until the State of Minnesota sold the house to the Washington County Historical Society in 1941. The society opened it as a museum that year, as Minnesota's second historic house museum. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
in 1974 and is still in operation.
Prison
A prison is a place in which people are physically confined and, usually, deprived of a range of personal freedoms. Imprisonment or incarceration is a legal penalty that may be imposed by the state for the commission of a crime...
in Stillwater, Minnesota
Stillwater, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 15,143 people, 5,797 households, and 4,115 families residing in the city. The population density was 2,340.0 people per square mile . There were 5,926 housing units at an average density of 915.7 per square mile...
, operated from 1853 - 1914. Construction of the prison began in 1851, shortly after Minnesota
Minnesota
Minnesota is a U.S. state located in the Midwestern United States. The twelfth largest state of the U.S., it is the twenty-first most populous, with 5.3 million residents. Minnesota was carved out of the eastern half of the Minnesota Territory and admitted to the Union as the thirty-second state...
became a territory . The historic site, long since unused, was destroyed by arson
Arson
Arson is the crime of intentionally or maliciously setting fire to structures or wildland areas. It may be distinguished from other causes such as spontaneous combustion and natural wildfires...
on September 3, 2002 The prison was replaced by the Minnesota Correctional Facility – Stillwater in nearby Bayport
Bayport, Minnesota
Bayport is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,471 at the 2010 census.Bayport is located on the St. Croix River one mile south of Stillwater, Minnesota. It is the headquarters of the Andersen Corporation, a major manufacturer of windows...
.
The prison was well-known because it once housed the Younger Brothers (Cole
Cole Younger
Thomas Coleman "Cole" Younger was an American Confederate guerrilla during the American Civil War and later an outlaw with the James-Younger gang...
, Bob
Bob Younger
Robert Ewing "Bob" Younger was an American criminal and outlaw, the younger brother of Cole, Jim and John Younger , he was a member of the James-Younger gang.-Life:...
, and Jim
Jim Younger
James Hardin "Jim" Younger was a notable American outlaw and member of the James-Younger gang. He was the brother of Cole, John and Bob Younger-Life:...
), members of notorious outlaw Jesse James
Jesse James
Jesse Woodson James was an American outlaw, gang leader, bank robber, train robber, and murderer from the state of Missouri and the most famous member of the James-Younger Gang. He also faked his own death and was known as J.M James. Already a celebrity when he was alive, he became a legendary...
' gang.
Today, the prison site has been converted to the large condominium
Condominium
A condominium, or condo, is the form of housing tenure and other real property where a specified part of a piece of real estate is individually owned while use of and access to common facilities in the piece such as hallways, heating system, elevators, exterior areas is executed under legal rights...
project "Terra Springs".
Warden's House Museum
The warden's house at 602 North Main Street was built in 1853. It housed 13 wardens of the prison until Minnesota Correctional Facility - StillwaterMinnesota Correctional Facility - Stillwater
The Minnesota Correction Facility - Stillwater is a close custody state prison for men in Minnesota, USA.Built in 1914 and located in Bayport, Washington County, it houses 1600 inmates in seven different living areas. Additionally, approximately 100 inmates are housed in a nearby minimum security...
was built in Bayport
Bayport, Minnesota
Bayport is a city in Washington County, Minnesota, United States. The population was 3,471 at the 2010 census.Bayport is located on the St. Croix River one mile south of Stillwater, Minnesota. It is the headquarters of the Andersen Corporation, a major manufacturer of windows...
, just south of Stillwater. After that, it continued to house deputy wardens and superintendents of the prison until the State of Minnesota sold the house to the Washington County Historical Society in 1941. The society opened it as a museum that year, as Minnesota's second historic house museum. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
in 1974 and is still in operation.
External links
- Warden's House Museum - Washington County Historical Society