Folsom Prison Museum pics

[JLP]

Hey guys,

I work in Sacramento,CA which isn't far from Folsom and on the news the other night they said they found some new Johnny Cash photos of the '68 concert and they only had copies at the Folsom Prison Museum.I'd never been there so I thought it was a good opportunity to go see the prison museum and take some pics.
So here's a mini virtual tour,please be patient as the new system takes me a little while to post the pics(about 40 of them).
Also,if you'd like to know more about the history of Folsom Prison check out the Wikipedia page.


So,here's where you turn off the main road,you can see they spared no expense on the sign.

Here's one of the main walls,all the granite was quarried from the surrounding area.

Here's the prison post office.All mail is marked Represa,but it's still the town of Folsom.Represa means Dam in Spanish.

 

[Guest]

Certainly don't want to end up in a place like that! Makes me miss johnny though!

Pretty interesting pics, looks like a pretty miserable place, lol!

Interesting!
~Aes

 

[JLP]

Here's some pics of the front gate(East Gate) or tower #1.This is probably the most iconic image of Folsom.

 

[JLP]

Here's a pic of what I assume was one of the original gates,there was no sign.

Here's pic of an old toilet,they haven't changed this design much over the years.I guess if you are a contorsionist you could take a crap and wash your face at the same time.

Here's one of the old searchlights.

 

[MidLifeCrisis]

Right on JLP!!!... Looking forward to more pictures! What a great moment in the history of Johnny Cash...a true icon to say the least. Could you imagine this happening in today's times? I think Shelton would make a great artist to give a rockin prison show!! LOL!

Anyway, thanks for donating your time to post these pictures...can't wait to see'em all!

 

[JLP]

Theses are gas billies or FE bats,they are batons that shoot tear gas.

 

[Guest]

Ooh, more, awesome

Tear gas clubs! That is terrifying!

 

[JLP]

Here's some more tear gas guns.

Here are some very old,very well made manacles.

Here's the classic ball and chain,also some heavy leg collar type restraints.

 

[JLP]

Here is an actual hanging rope.93 death row inmates were hung at Folsom until they started using the gas chamber at San Quentin.

 

[JLP]

Here's a zip gun made by an inmate.

Here's a couple carved fom wood and used in escape attemts.

 

[JLP]

here's an old ID card.

Here's some tattoo guns.

 

[JLP]

Here's a huge ferris wheel built by an inmate.

 

[Organic Rooster]

Folsom State Prision is a cool place to visit(on the outside of the fence!) Did you check out the Jewelry store while you were out there? For those who dont know, They have a handmade jewelry store that sells the different jewelry the inmates make to sell. They have some neat things every once and a while. I guess you gotta do something to make the time go faster.

 

[Payaso]

Awesome stuff, but kinda depressing to see how cruel mankind can be.
Thanks for the tour JLP!
All the best to you from Lake County!

 

[swampdank]

Very cool, but also very saddening at the same time.

Thanks for sharing your adventure with us John Lee. Keep em coming. K+

 

[JLP]

Here's the "wall o' shanks".

Here's a shank made from melted bic razors.

Folsom has also made all the CA plates since the 30's.

 

[JLP]

I believe most guards in the towers now use the Ruger mini-14 but they didn't always.

 

[JLP]

This is probably the rarest and most valuable piece in the collection,the original Folsom Prison Gatling gun.

 

[LiLWaynE]

cool pics man...

thanks for posting them up here for us to check out...

im diggin the homemade wooden pistol... dude must of had serious talent...

peace, LW

 

[Mr. Bongjangles]

Great thread, thanks much for posting all these pictures!