Historic Ohio State Reformatory

With the cornerstone laid in 1886, the castle-like prison was designed for young, first time offenders to provide rehabilitation. Abandoned in 1990, the original cell blocks and administration areas remain intact and continued restoration is ongoing. Six major motion pictures have been filmed on location including “The Shawshank Redemption” and “Air Force One”.

Immerse yourself in a Shawshank experience as you tour through intact sets that were used in the filming of the movie. The Reformatory is open year-round for tours. Take a guided or self-guided tour or participate in one of the available paranormal programs to learn about the history of the prison, its Hollywood connections, and the paranormal activity.

The Reformatory houses three museums, all included in a single admission price – the Ohio Corrections Museum, the Shawshank Museum, and the North Central Ohio Industrial Museum. Online virtual tours, the gift shop, facility rentals, and other special events are available as well.