A prison is a type of place that is called by different names, like a correctional facility, jail, penitentiary, detention center, or remand center. Almost every century has had the concept of prisons, which means detaining the personal freedom of confined individuals. In history, prisons were frequently used as a temporary place before a life sentence or execution. The initial accounts of prisons from almost the 1st millennium might be found in areas of Mesopotamia and Egypt. Now we shall overview Top 10 Historic Prisons in the world.
10: Port Arthur – Australia’s Historic Prison Colony
Port Arthur is an ex-prisoner colony in Australia that dates from 1833 to 1850; it was meant to be a harsh destination for British Criminals. This prison was named after George Arthur, who was the lieutenant governor of Van Diemen’s Land. According to the procedures of the British Penal system, Port Arthur had austere security.
This Prison was completed in 1853, but expanded in 1855. Its layout was fairly symmetrical, cross-shaped, with an exercise courtyard in each turn. In the year 1996, it became the site of Australia’s deadliest gun mass-destruction incident when a shooter opened fire on visitors and killed around 35 individuals. It ranked among the most historic prisons in the world.
Places with unusual and unresolved stories can also be explored through these biggest Historical Mysteries.
09: Carandiru Penitentiary – The Notorious Prison of São Paulo
Carandiru Penitentiary is known as the worst and most notorious prison in the world. It is located in São Paulo, Brazil. Sauel das Neves designed this prison in 1920. It was notorious for the terrible health conditions of prisoners, with around every five convicts being diagnosed with HIV. From 1956 to 2002, it was operational, but because of brutality finally, it was demolished in 2002. Drauzio Varella, a Brazilian physician volunteer in prison, wrote in a book about his personal experience and the dreadful conditions of inmates.
08: Devil’s Island – France’s Infamous Penal Colony
The penal colony of Cayenne, usually recognized as Devil’s Island, opened in 1852 under the ruler Napoleon III. It is one of the historic prisons in the world that was notorious for harsh punishment, with around a 75% death rate. This historic prison was a hub of every kind of criminal and political prisoner until 1953. Devil’s Island was dishonorably used for the eternal exile of a French politician, the most famous being Captain Alfred Dreyfus.
07: Hanoi Hilton – A Prison of the Vietnam War
Hanoi Hilton prison was specially built for the Vietnamese political prisoners by the French. During the Vietnam War, it was used by the Vietnam Army for war prisoners. Here, prisoners were confined, and they had to face brutal behavior, starvation, and even murder. Some well-known persons like Senator John McCain, James Stockdale, and Bud Day spent a few days here. It is also counted among the 10 historic prisons in the world.
06: Goree Island – A Historic Site Linked to the Slave Trade
Goree Island is recognized as the place of the House of Slaves. The Afro-French Metis family was built around 1780-1784. In 1848, thousands of slaves went through Goree Island in Senegal before France eliminated the slave trade. Now it serves as a Pilgrimage spot and an outstanding historical center for many African –Americans. It is considered one of the most Historic Prisons in the world.
05: Kilmainham Gaol – One of Ireland’s Most Historic Prisons
Kilmainham Gaol was well known as a historic prison until 1924; it was operational in 1796. This prison had no isolation rooms or compartments for ladies, men, or youngsters. They even jailed up to 5 prisoners in the cell. Sadly, there were poor conditions for women prisoners; a century later improvement here, but their section was still overloaded. In 1916, one of the famous Irish leaders of the Easter Rising was also imprisoned here by the orders of the UK government. Now it is a museum that is run by the Government of Ireland.
04: Tower of London – From Royal Fortress to Prison
The Tower of London once served as a prison in the middle of the 20th century during World War II. It is located on the north bank of the River Thames. Now it is the home of the British Crown Jewels and one of the tourist attractions of England. Popular prisoners like Sir Thomas, King Henry VI, Anne Boleyn, Catherine Howard, and Rudolph Hess were once imprisoned here. It is recognized as the most haunted place, maybe also because of the historic prison.
Historic architecture can also be explored through these beautiful ancient Roman amphitheaters from different parts of Europe.
03: Alcatraz – The Famous Prison Island of San Francisco
Alcatraz was one of the most popular and historic prisons in the U.S. around 1934. Furthermore, it stayed dynamic until 1963. This prison was a hub of many notorious criminals of that time, like Al Capone and Machine Gun Kelly. It is located on the coast of San Francisco, California. Now it is the main tourist attraction and a famous public museum that attracts almost 1.5 million visitors yearly.
02: Kresty Prison – The Notorious Prison of St. Petersburg
Kresty Prison is located in St Petersburg, Russia. It is one of the most historic prisons in the world. It looked like a common prison: old, foreboding, dark, gloomy, and overcrowded. Almost 12500 inmates were imprisoned in Kresty. This prison has 960 cells and is normally designed for a capacity of 1150 prisoners. Its history started in 1730 and was managed by the Saint Petersburg Prison Committee.
01: Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum – A Prison of the Khmer Rouge
Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum was once a high school that was converted into a prison in 1975 by the Khmer Rouge. It was one of the most historic and horrible prisons in the world. Almost all prisoners were tortured there. More than approximately 17000 people were prisoners in the four years that time at Tuol Sleng. Now it has been turned into a historical museum after the Vietnamese army took over the prison in 1979.
| Rank | Historic Prison | Location | Known For |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Port Arthur | Australia | Former penal colony |
| 9 | Carandiru Penitentiary | São Paulo, Brazil | Notorious prison and poor conditions |
| 8 | Devil’s Island | French Guiana | Infamous penal colony |
| 7 | Hanoi Hilton | Hanoi, Vietnam | Vietnam War prison |
| 6 | Goree Island | Senegal | Historic slave-trade site |
| 5 | Kilmainham Gaol | Dublin, Ireland | Irish political prisoners |
| 4 | Tower of London | London, England | Royal fortress and prison |
| 3 | Alcatraz | San Francisco, USA | Famous federal prison |
| 2 | Kresty Prison | St. Petersburg, Russia | Historic Russian prison |
| 1 | Tuol Sleng Genocide Museum | Phnom Penh, Cambodia | Khmer Rouge prison and memorial |
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