Recently my parents were able to visit the Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield, OH (Click to view slideshow or click button below text). The reformatory was built between 1886 and 1910 and remained in operation until December, 1990 after a court order closed the prison. The field on which the prison would later by built was used as a civil war training camp. On September 15, 1896 the reformatory opened its door to the first 150 inmates. Over 154,000 inmates were sent to the OSR during its 94 years of operation. 215 prisoners were killed there, along with two guards during a prison escape. The inmates were buried somewhere on the property where they still remain today. Many films and music videos took place within the walls of the prison after it was closed, such as The Shawshank Redemption, and Lil Wayne's 2004 hit, "Go DJ". In 1995, the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society was formed. They since have turned the prison into a museum, and also conduct tours in order to keep the building preserved to prevent further deterioration. If you would like further information about the Ohio State Reformatory or tour dates and prices, please visit the link below.
http://www.mrps.org/
http://www.mrps.org/