Nevada State Prison
Nevada State Prison was a maximum-security correctional facility in Carson City, Nevada, that served as the state's primary prison from its establishment in 1862 until closure in 2012.[1][2]
The prison originated from the Nevada Legislature's purchase of the Warm Springs Hotel and surrounding land, with Abraham Curry appointed as the first warden; it was rebuilt multiple times after fires in 1867 and 1870 using locally quarried sandstone that also constructed key state buildings like the capitol and mint.[1][3] Notable early incidents included a mass escape of prisoners in 1871 and a standoff in 1872 where the lieutenant governor refused to vacate the warden's office, resolved by militia intervention.[2][1]
From 1901 onward, it housed all state executions, initially by hanging, then pioneering the first U.S. lethal gas execution in 1924 on Gee Jon, followed by 31 more gas chamber deaths until 1979, with lethal injection adopted in 1983 for subsequent cases; unique events included the only firing squad execution in 1913 and the youngest inmate executed at age 17 in 1944.[1] The facility also featured prisoner labor in industries such as license plate manufacturing from 1928 and a legalized gambling operation in its "bullpen" from 1932 to 1967, alongside a reputation for escapes like Leonard Fristoe's 45-year evasion beginning in 1923.[1][2] After ceasing maximum-security operations in 1989, it continued executions until closure, after which the site transitioned to preservation for historical tours.[1][3]
History
Establishment and Territorial Era (1862–1900)
The Nevada State Prison was established in 1862 by the Nevada Territorial Legislature, shortly after the creation of the Nevada Territory on March 2, 1861. The facility was sited at the former Warm Springs Hotel, located east of Carson City, which Abraham Curry had developed earlier as a stagecoach stop and social venue. Curry leased the hotel building and approximately 20 acres of surrounding land, including an adjacent quarry, to the territory for prison use, and he was appointed the first warden on the same date the legislature authorized the prison board.[4][5][6] Following Nevada's statehood on October 31, 1864, the state government purchased the leased property outright from Curry. Early operations emphasized inmate labor as a means of self-sufficiency and punishment, with prisoners quarrying sandstone from the on-site site to construct and maintain prison structures as well as public buildings, including the Nevada State Capitol completed in 1871. This labor system reflected territorial priorities for resource utilization in a developing frontier region with limited infrastructure.[4][7] The prison faced significant setbacks in its initial decades, including destructive fires in 1867 and 1870 that razed wooden and early stone components, necessitating rebuilding with convict-quarried materials. Security vulnerabilities were evident in a major escape on September 17, 1871, when 27 inmates broke out, though most were recaptured shortly thereafter. These events underscored the challenges of managing a remote territorial facility amid rapid state formation and sparse oversight, yet the prison remained operational, adapting through iterative construction until the turn of the century.[8][6]Early 20th Century Expansion and Reforms (1900–1930)
In the early 20th century, Nevada State Prison underwent significant expansions and reforms influenced by Progressive Era ideals emphasizing rehabilitation, sanitation, and structured inmate labor over mere punishment. Under Warden J.L. Considine (1903–1907), improvements included the installation of an electric engine, alarm system, and lighting in 1904–1905 to enhance security and daily operations.[9] Warden W.J. Maxwell (1908–1926) further advocated for inmate classification and indeterminate sentencing in 1909, aiming to tailor punishments to individual reform potential, while adding an 8-foot electrified fence and guard houses in 1907–1908.[9] These changes reflected a broader shift toward viewing prisons as sites for vocational training and behavior modification, with the 1910 purchase of Schultz Farm enabling agricultural labor programs for self-sufficiency.[9] By 1913, under Denver Dickerson's oversight, the prison added a steam laundry and modern hospital equipment, addressing hygiene and health concerns amid rising inmate numbers.[9] The 1923 introduction of a credit system rewarded good behavior and work productivity, aligning with national penal trends toward incentivized compliance.[9] Executions centralized at the facility per 1901 legislation, with hanging as the method until 1921's Assembly Bill 230 legalized lethal gas, leading to the U.S.'s first such execution on February 8, 1924.[9] From 1925 to 1933, the prison housed up to 334 federal inmates, straining capacity and prompting further infrastructure needs.[9] The most extensive developments occurred in the 1920s, with a major reconstruction program demolishing 19th-century structures and rebuilding using inmate-mined sandstone from the on-site quarry.[9] Architect Frederic DeLongchamps designed fireproof, sanitary facilities, including the four-story Cell Block A (1920–1925, with 32 cells per floor and refined exterior), North and West Wings (1924–1925), Warden’s Residence, and Administration Building (1920–1927).[9][10][11] Additional structures like the Sally Port/Courthouse (c. 1928) and Fifth Street Guard Tower (1929) completed the modernized core, prioritizing durability and oversight while incorporating landscaping for a less punitive environment.[9] Prisoner labor drove these projects, reinforcing reformist goals of productive employment.[9]Mid-20th Century Operations (1930–1970)
During the 1930s and 1940s, Nevada State Prison underwent targeted expansions to address capacity needs, including the completion of Cell Block B between 1947 and 1950 and B-Block in 1948, which augmented the East Wing alongside the earlier A-Block from 1925.[12] These additions supported ongoing operations amid a steady inmate population engaged in labor-intensive tasks, such as quarrying stone on prison grounds for construction materials. Inmate labor remained central to facility maintenance and state industries; by December 1931, the prison initiated production of Nevada's vehicle license plates, a program that continued until 1963 and generated revenue while providing structured work for prisoners.[13] Additional industries included a bookbindery and print shop, contributing to self-sufficiency and skill development under the prevailing rehabilitative ethos of the era.[14] Post-World War II reforms emphasized administrative efficiency and security, exemplified by Warden Art Bernard's tenure from 1951 to 1959, during which he implemented measures to curb corruption and enhance discipline, earning credit for stabilizing the institution after prior mismanagement.[15] Facility upgrades accelerated in the 1950s, including the construction of six staff cottages in 1957 using prison-quarried stone, a generator building from 1953 to 1957 for backup power, and a dedicated license plate factory in 1959. By the 1960s, further infrastructure supported operations, such as the 1961 completion of C-Block, a 1966 culinary and dining hall expansion, and a 1969 water tank for improved utilities. Inmates also produced brass coins from 1945 to 1964 for internal prison currency, facilitating controlled transactions. The opening of the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in 1964 provided overflow capacity, mitigating pressures from the main facility's aging structure.[12][10] Capital punishment operations persisted via the gas chamber, with executions including John Kramer on August 28, 1942, and Floyd Loveless—the youngest at age 17—on September 29, 1944, reflecting Nevada's adherence to lethal gas as the mandated method since 1921. An intra-prison casino, operational until its 1967 closure, allowed limited inmate wagering, ostensibly as a morale and behavioral incentive within the controlled environment. No major riots disrupted operations during this period, though escapes like Leonard Fristoe's long-term evasion (1923–1968) underscored ongoing security challenges until his recapture in 1968.[12] These elements defined a era of incremental modernization amid persistent reliance on inmate labor for both prison upkeep and state contributions.[13]Facilities and Programs
Physical Infrastructure and Layout
The Nevada State Prison occupied approximately 20 acres in Carson City, Nevada, with a layout featuring a secured perimeter enclosed by fences and multiple guard towers constructed between 1963 and 1981.[16] The core facility formed a three-sided structure around an old prison yard, incorporating administrative offices, cell blocks, and support buildings primarily built from locally quarried sandstone masonry, concrete, and steel.[12] Expansions occurred incrementally, with major additions in the 1920s, 1940s, and 1980s to increase housing capacity and functionality.[16] Central to the layout were the cell houses, including the historic East Wing comprising A and B Blocks, a four-story sandstone and concrete structure designed to hold up to 300 inmates across multiple tiers.[12] Later housing units, such as Unit 11 (7,801 square feet, built 1981) and Unit 13 (11,888 square feet, built 1988), consisted of two-level precast concrete buildings each containing 48 cells, showers, and central control rooms.[16] The North Wing, part of the hospital area on the third story, housed the execution chamber, initially used for hangings from 1905 and later adapted for lethal gas executions starting in 1924.[12] Administrative and cell block facilities, spanning 106,251 square feet and dating to 1868 with expansions in 1925 and 1948, integrated visitation areas, education spaces, laundry, infirmary, and a mattress factory.[16] Exercise areas included a lower yard and upper yard, with asphalt surfacing in the former requiring periodic maintenance for accessibility, though lacking full ADA compliance.[16] Support infrastructure encompassed the Culinary/Dining Hall (11,334 square feet, 1966), License Plate Factory (7,462 square feet, 1959), and a boiler plant (2,688 square feet, 1958) for utilities, alongside older structures like the 1868 Old Butcher Shop and Fifth Street Tower.[12] Perimeter security relied on five guard towers and a main gate tower (450 square feet, 1963), providing oversight of the enclosed grounds.[16] The site's original stone was quarried from an adjacent hill, contributing to the durable yet aging construction observed in facility assessments.[12]