Why the Tours at the Ohio State Reformatory are Worth Every Penny
Hello, travelers!
I got the chance to do a self-guided tour in the Ohio State Reformatory while visiting family in Mansfield, Ohio. They provide both guided and self-guided tours taking you through the former prison while also covering its history as the primary filming location for the 1994 movie The Shawshank Redemption. My family and I chose the self-guided tour, which included a QR code to audio guides you could listen to on your phone while walking. We greatly enjoyed this option, and I want to give you an overview as to why this tour should definitely be on your list when traveling in Ohio.
HISTORY
The Ohio State Reformatory’s building process began in 1886 and was completed in 1896, making it 130 years old at the time I’m writing this. Its original intent was to rehabilitate inmates through work, education, religion, and providing a chance for them to have a job post their sentence. On opening, it originally housed only 150 inmates before growing in size and overcrowding due to the amount of arrests during the Prohibition. Over time, their initial reform mission began to fail and it officially closed its doors as a prison in 1990.
While on the tour, you are able to walk through the cells and even enter them. It was one of my favorite parts of the entire tour, as it allowed you to step into history and understand what it must have felt like to live in those cramped, dark cells.
Accessibility note: if you go on the standard self-guided tour, there are accessible routes and elevators/lifts available. Staff there can provide accessible route maps at the ticket desk if requested. If you want to look into this more, I’ll link the FAQs of their website here.
THE SHAWSHANK REDEMPTION
One of the primary reasons people choose to go to the Ohio State Reformatory is to see the museum dedicated to the 1994 film The Shawshank Redemption. Based on the Stephen King collection of novellas titled Different Seasons, the film follows Andy Dufresne, a man wrongfully accused of the murder of his wife and her lover, and his plan for escape from Shawshank prison. There are many shots in the movie that feature the Ohio State Reformatory’s castle-like exterior and rooms within the prison that acted as the Warden’s office or the character Brooks’ hotel room.
If you are a fan of the movie, you will truly appreciate the part of the building that’s been transformed into a museum housing costumes, props, and even pieces of the set. One of my favorite things to look at while I was there were the pages of the script on the walls, allowing you to read how the director/screenwriter penned famous scenes from the film. If you aren’t a fan of the movie, I could see how you might skip this tour, but even if you don’t know the movie well, it’s such a cool piece of Hollywood history that I’d be hard pressed to pass this up! It’s a very well laid out museum and has lots to see and listen to.
PARANORMAL ACTIVITY
As I mentioned, the Ohio State Reformatory is quite an old building that’s been around for a long time, so I wasn’t surprised to learn that there have been reports of paranormal activity. Many members of staff and even visitors of the prison have reported things like hearing footsteps or disembodied voices, seeing shadows, or even smelling phantom scents like pipe tobacco in old administrative offices. While it is disputed on whether this is one of the most haunted buildings in America, many online will agree that the combination of the Gothic architecture and history of violence and death create an eerie atmosphere.
Some of the places noted on the tour for being the most haunted were the chapel, library, and hospital (all pictured above). I won’t lie: it was a little creepy! It was so quiet walking through those spaces that you could hear a pin drop, and the air was often cold. I’m not the biggest enthusiast for ghost tours as I often find them hokey, but when doing this self-guided tour where you’re able to decide for yourself if you feel a presence, it’s a cool experience. Obviously, if you feel this might give you the creeps , I wouldn’t recommend walking through, but if you are a fan of the paranormal, you will really enjoy this!
VERDICT
I went into the self-guided tour at the Ohio State Reformatory with no expectations and ended up having a great time. The whole thing took a couple of hours, and I felt it was totally worth it. From the background on the building of the prison to the movie history, it was a one-of-a-kind experience that made for a great afternoon. If you are in Mansfield, Ohio or surrounding areas and are looking for something interesting to do during a rainy afternoon, I’d highly recommend going here!
I hope you enjoyed this post on the historic Ohio State Reformatory! If you want to read other posts about America’s heartland, go to the Midwest tab under “U.S. Travel,” and make sure to sign up to our newsletter and follow our socials to see all our travel content.
Happy travels,