Step inside the historical Kansas State Penitentiary

Behind these walls, time stands still. The historic Kansas State Penitentiary tour is a guided journey into the stories, spaces, and echoes of one of Kansas’ most historic institutions.

Choose Your Experience

Behind the Walls Historical Tour
Approximately 2 hours Cost $30
A guided walk-through focusing on history, architecture, and life inside the walls.

Behind the Walls Photography Tour
Approximately 3 hours Cost $40
Designed strictly for photography, this tour allows extended time for composition, lighting, and capturing details rarely seen. Guides are professional photographers with years of experience.

Tour Size & Guests

Tours include 15–20 guests

You do not need to arrive as part of a group—individual visitors are always welcome.

Everyone tours together; all guests are taken through the same areas.

What to Expect

• This tour does involve a lot of walking.
• Guests move through the site at a steady, manageable pace.
• Knowledgeable guides lead you through cell houses and historic spaces, sharing stories that go far beyond the walls themselves.

Before You Arrive

• Please arrive early for check-in.
• Comfortable shoes are recommended.
• All guests must follow guide instructions for safety and preservation of the site.

Behind the Walls, History Lives On

This is more than a tour—it is a journey into another time, where history surrounds you at every turn. The past is not just remembered here; it is embedded in the stone walls and steel bars, echoing through the corridors and etched into every surface.