The prison was built in stages over many years, mostly by the convicts themselves, a good example of "hard labor". 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.
1870-1931 Federal Building
1870-1931 Federal Building The first prison building was constructed on this site in 1870 while Montana was still a territory of the United States. It served as a territorial prison and federal penitentiary. In 1889, when Montana attained statehood, it became the Montana State Prison.
The original three-story brick and granite structure had 14 cells. The building was demolished in 1931 and replaced a year later with the current administration building. The prison "opened for reception of territorial and United States convicts on the second day of July, 1871, on which day I received nine convicts." (William F. Wheeler, U. S. Marshal for Montana Territory)
From the sign