Why this infamous Midwest prison should be on your bucket list

Voted the #1 Thing to Do in Jefferson City and recipient of the 2022 Travelers’ Choice on TripAdvisor, the Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) is worth exploring in Missouri’s capital city. It was named the “Bloodiest 47 Acres in America” in 1967 by Time magazine and is a beloved treasure to history buffs and thrill-seekers alike. Guests walk through once-overcrowded housing units and the gas chamber where 40 inmates took their final breath. See why a trip to this infamous prison should be on your bucket list!


March 8, 1836

The Missouri State Penitentiary gets its first prisoner. Wilson Edison made history as the first inmate to be checked into the new prison in Jefferson City. He had the place to himself for a week until inmate number two showed up.