One of the most formidable jails in the USA, Laramie's Wyoming Territorial Prison opened in 1872 and was known for its stark conditions, including hard labor forced upon the inmates. It was short lived, though, closing in 1903, and becoming a research center for the University of Wyoming.

In the 1990s, the prison was preserved as the Wyoming Territorial Prison State Historic Site, meaning visitors can get a glimpse into the abandoned facility, with its stripped-back cells and historical exhibitions.

America’s abandoned prisons you can visit

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