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All the United States Tennessee Nashville Old Tennessee State Prison

Old Tennessee State Prison

This defunct, fortress-like prison has been the setting for several movies.

Nashville, Tennessee

Added By
Ken J
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Main building and entrance.   Pepper6181
Top right facade damage from tornado in 2020, also note the large trees toppled in the foreground   KenJ / Atlas Obscura User
  GREG MEYER md / Atlas Obscura User
  GREG MEYER md / Atlas Obscura User
  GREG MEYER md / Atlas Obscura User
  quitos123 / Atlas Obscura User
  quitos123 / Atlas Obscura User
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About

Modeled after the much older Auburn Penitentiary in upstate New York, the Tennessee State Prison was largely constructed by convict labor and opened in 1898. Resembling a medieval castle, the massive building sits high atop a bluff overlooking the Cumberland River and West Nashville. It operated as a prison until 1992.  

Several escape attempts occurred while the facility was operational. One attempt involved several prisoners actually blowing out an entire wing of the prison. After the last prisoners were transferred to more modern facilities, the old prison became a prime filming location. Most notably the 1999 film, The Green Mile featuring Tom Hanks and Michael Clarke Ducan, was filmed inside the prison. Scenes from, Framed (1975), Ernest Goes to Jail (1990), and The Last Castle with Robert Redford (2001) were also all filmed at the prison.

Update as of March 2020: A tornado toppled large portions of the old prison, its future is unclear.

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Jails

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The prison is still surrounded by tall walls and barbed wire, so viewing from the roadside is the only option. Keep an eye out in the springtime and put on those running shoes. Each year, a charity 5K race runs through the prison. It's a moment to catch a tour and hear stories from old guards.

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Added By

KenJ

Edited By

GREG MEYER md, quitos123

  • GREG MEYER md
  • quitos123

Published

October 8, 2019

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Sources
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_State_Prison
  • https://mentorakid.rallybound.org/tdoc/donate/tickets/
  • https://local.nashvillescene.com/event/historic-tennessee-state-prison/tdoc-prison-5k-runwalk
  • https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tornado_outbreak_of_March_2%E2%80%933,_2020#Nashville%E2%80%93Mount_Juliet%E2%80%93Lebanon,_Tennessee
Old Tennessee State Prison
Bomar Boulevard
Nashville, Tennessee, 37209
United States
36.177808, -86.86597
Get Directions

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