The Ohio State Reformatory is an old prison in Mansfield, Ohio that is notorious for its role in "The Shawshank Redemption." Designed by Cleveland architect, Levi T. Scofield, the main building of the prison still stands after nearly 100 years of operation. Although it no longer houses inmates, it does welcome tourists daily throughout the summer. While there are countless, one-of-a-kind views throughout the facility, when visiting the infamous prison, be sure to take special notice of these 15 spots.
1. Parole Board Room
A must see for Shawshank fans, this area served as the Parole Board Room for Red in the film.
2. Warden Norton’s Office
Recently renovated to replicate its movie appearance, this area served as the office of Warden Samuel Norton in The Shawshank Redemption.
3. Shawshank Safe
The safe in the wall was the actual prop used in the filming of Shawshank, that served to be valuable in Andy’s escape.
4. Chair Room
A hot spot for paranormal fans, this room is the only room in the entire prison without windows. Paranormal investigators claim the wooden chair that used to sit here would move on its own.
5. Scofield’s X
Present whenever there is light outside, this X marks the center of the building, thanks to the genius design of Levi Scofield.
6. Brook’s Room
This area served as the inside of the Brewer Hotel in Shawshank, where Brook’s and Red both stayed after being released from prison.
7. Chapel
This iconic view is a hot spot for choirs, as the acoustics are outstanding! The Chapel also marks the division between the administrative part of the building and the prison cells.
8. East Cell Block
The infamous cell block holds a place in the Guinness Book of World Records as the tallest, freestanding, steel, cell block. And you can walk the length of one tier as a guard would have.
9. Central Guard Room
This restored room served multiple purposes during its prison life, as well as movie appearances in Air Force One and Shawshank.
10. Andy’s Escape Tunnel
This is the actual tunnel Andy used to crawl out of his cell. When visiting the Ohio State Reformatory, you can also see the sewer tunnel used in Shawshank.
11. Solitary
It wouldn’t be a proper tour if you didn’t check out one of the prison’s darkest places. Misbehaved inmates would be given time in “the hole” as punishment. While the punishment varied throughout the years, your time in solitary was considered dead time – it did not count towards your sentence.
12. The Green Staircases
The beautiful staircases frequently seen in Shawshank are in pristine shape and can be found all throughout the administrative wing of the facility. These staircases are all steel, to serve as indoor fire escapes in the event of a fire.
13. The Alley
When walking the east cell block, you can’t miss the dark path in between the ranges. This area was called the Alley and allowed guards to turn off the water to an inmate’s cell if necessary.
14. Stained Glass Windows
Another beautiful aspect of this architectural icon is the stained-glass windows. Take time to admire them as you make your way through administration.
15. The Front Arch
This arch is probably the first thing that catches your eye as you drive up to the building as well as the last thing you see in your rearview window as you drive away. It is a perfect spot for a photo.
It is one thing to see photos of the areas, but it is an entirely different thing to see them in person. To get a look at these masterpieces with your own eyes, as well as the complete history of these locations and many others, visit the Ohio State Reformatory and take a tour.
