This Tour Of An Abandoned Texas Prison Is An Experience Unlike Any Other
By Katie Lawrence|Published May 19, 2019
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Katie Lawrence
Author
Katie Lawrence is a Southeast Texas native who graduated 18th in her high school class with a GPA of 4.25. She attended college in the Houston area and began writing for OnlyInYourState in 2015.
Today, Katie writes, edits, and performs several other tasks for OnlyInYourState and has never been more passionate about a job before. Outside of work, you can likely find her curled up on with a hot cup of coffee, practicing yoga, baking, or exploring the beautiful Lone Star State (in particular, the vast and mystical West Texas desert).
Countless inmates have died behind bars here in Texas – in fact, we execute more people than any other state. That being said, it’s safe to assume there are plenty of vengeful spirits walking the halls of our prisons. This one-of-a-kind museum takes you into a former cell block, providing an unparalleled opportunity to learn all about the history of our justice system. Let’s take a tour, shall we?
Of the 115 prisons in Texas, Huntsville is home to six. That may not sound like too staggering of a statistic, but inmates nearly outnumber residents in this small city with just over 40,000 people.
One of the former units now operates as a museum, preserving the rich history of our state's justice system. Visit and you'll see everything from confiscated weapons to an original electric chair.
Various contraband ranges from knives and shivs to even more offbeat, gruesome items like mallets and a ball-and-chain. These sinister
objects provide shocking insight into the atrocities committed right inside these walls.
Taken straight from the Bonnie & Clyde death car, this very pistol was used by the infamous outlaws on their killing spree. Simply peering through the glass at such a destructive weapon is enough to evoke feelings of terror.
Artifacts from the Texas Prison Rodeo are also on display. Held from 1931-1986, this one-of-a-kind event was nationally-known as the "Wildest Show Behind Bars."
You'll also see how lethal injection has progressed over the years in terms of effectiveness and chemical used. Death is virtually painless nowadays, but it hasn't always been that way.