Built primarily by the convicts, this large cell block and doorway were designed by architects
Link & Haire, of Billings, MT, who provided the plans for a variety of Montana jails, court houses, schools, and state buildings. Made entirely of locally quarried stone with a steel barred door, the recessed entrance is quite impressive, particularly for a prison cell block.
The prison was built in stages over many years, mostly by the convicts themselves, a good example of "hard labour". The present cell block was built in 1896, the prison wall was extended
north in 1911 and a 400-man cell block built within in 1912, a theatre was built in 1918-1919, the administration building in 1930-1931, and dormitories, a storage building and a visitor centre were built between 1910 and 1930. A maximum security building, also used as a women's ward was built circa 1918.
Self sufficient, the prison had its own water well and water tower, power house, hospital and school.
The prison was still in use when entered in the national register on September 3rd, 1976, but was decommissioned by the end of the decade.
The Powell County Museum has online a great article on the prison.
