Certainly, the biggest reason to visit the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, Ohio is that it is an old prison. How often do you get the opportunity to see the inside of the American correctional system without having to break the law? But there is so much more to this particular prison than just experiencing life behind bars. Here are some reasons to consider visiting this local institution.
1. It is a Hollywood movie set.
How often does anyone outside of Hollywood get to say they have been to an actual Hollywood set and touched and seen actual Hollywood props? At the Ohio State Reformatory, you get to do just that. The building itself served as a Hollywood movie set for four major motion pictures, including the famous Shawshank Redemption, as well as many music and promotional videos.
2. It is a Paranormal hotspot.
Featured on numerous paranormal TV shows, the building is well known for its ghost stories. For those who follow the TV shows, the building has many featured locations including the “X” cell, Lockhart’s cell and the X on the floor. For those who just like to hunt themselves, the facility offers ghost walks and ghost hunts that feature numerous “hot spots.”
3. It is a Correctional museum.
Being a historic site, the entire building is a museum but included with your tour ticket you get access to Ohio’s Correctional Institution Museum that is scheduled to open later on this summer. The museum features “Old Sparky” the electric chair from the Ohio State Penitentiary as well as countless artifacts from the Reformatory.
4. It is in the Guinness Book of World Records.
How often do you get to see something record breaking in person? Within the building sits the East Cell Block, the tallest free-standing steel cell block in the world at six tiers high. The self-guided route allows you to walk the fourth tier of the infamous cell block.
5. The architecture is breathtaking.
Driving up to the facility will nearly take your breath away. For the most part, Europe has us beat in terms of architecture, with their endless castles, but a visit to the Ohio State Reformatory gives you a small glimpse of a castle-like structure here in the middle of Ohio. Not only is the outside breathtaking, but the inside offers many mysterious and ingenious designs including the Chair Room and Scofield’s X.
6. It is a historic prison.
Finally, as stated at the beginning, if none of the above reasons are convincing enough, the fact that it is an old, historic prison should be enough to spark your interest. If you like history, this should be on top of your bucket list.
