Cell Block 7

The Jackson Prison Museum (Cell Block 7) is a must see! After viewing a billboard on Interstate 94, we got off at the next exit. We spent a good hour touring the 5 floors and many rooms of Cell Block 7. There was a retired prison guard who showed us how he used to open the cell doors and told us many detailed stories of his days at the prison. Some of the details were a little too detailed, but we loved them none the less.
Fantastic historical exhibits, and very detailed descriptions of the prison activities were displayed through out the cell block.
There was a room of purchasable artwork created by current prisoners. Of course we bought one! 90% of the proceeds go into the convict’s personal fund. I hope our artist enjoys his cigarettes and cable.
The cost of admission was $ 15.00/ person, which I thought was a little pricey.
Great tourist stop if you haven’t visited the prison on other terms!

We took a chance on this museum today. I looked it up and understood that my kids were not going to be allowed off the main floor and so we’d be limited in our viewing, but that there was oodles of material and someone to talk to one that first floor that would make it well worth the visit still. At the entrance there were no warnings about inappropriate content. That would have prompted us to inquire about what may be seen or discussed once inside. So, thinking this would be great for my 8 and 10 year olds, we bought two adult tickets and went in. Once we got into the main building (the dining area at the center of all the stacked cells), we saw the gentleman who was there to help with questions. He used to work there so how wonderful that we may get to chat with him about what those days were like. But we got through a couple cells and information boards when, standing 6 feet away from us, he began speaking loudly to some people about prison sex, rape, gang rape — where, how and how often it occurred, etc. This is a giant slab of echoing concrete. There was no escape from his booming voice and those words. RAPE. PRISON SEX. My 8 year old son asks me, «What is rape, Mom?» Needless to say, we left. I mentioned my alarm to the gal at the front who went immediately into defensive mode and made it clear that sex is a problem in prison and they want to represent it in the museum. Getting no understanding from her, I asked to speak to the manager who gave me the same rhetoric. Like I’m stupid, I was told that sex does happen in prison. Yeah, sex happens everywhere. It’s how we all got here. People tend to have decency enough on the «outside» not to boost about it in front of kids, and that if they did I would also certainly say something to them. I explained the lack of warning/​disclaimer about what we would be forced to hear led to my young children being exposed to extremely inappropriate material. It was made clear to me I’m the only one who’s had a problem with it. I told her of course not to be so naïve. I may be the only one who has stood up and said something but I think most of us are trying to protect our kids. In the end I got my refund I asked for which is great, but I still have to go talk to my kids about what they heard. Innocence is lost in these moments. Once you know, you know. There’s no going back. And it is absolutely inexcusable to purposely ruin children’s innocence.
I felt the need to say something because they seemed unaffected by what had happened and it didn’t seem like they would take my advice and allow people the right to know what they’d be exposed to by properly disclosing it at the entrance. While they have a chance at something great, there is absolutely no way I would ever go back nor recommend this to anyone with children. How unfortunate as so many of our kids so look up to people in uniform, wanting to be them when they grow up, and so it would be great to let them see more into the lives and jobs of those they admire.

Have you always wondered what the inside of a prison looks like, but you’re too straight laced to find out the hard way? Simply make the short trip to Jackson and visit Cell Block 7, this way you can come and go as you please and your curiosity will be satisfied without any lasting effects.
The self guided tour starts with several small rooms filled with written information which fills us in on the history of Jackson (burgh), the prison (s) here, prisons and correctional facilities/​methods in general, prison life (a day in the life of.), etc.
The next room (s) we entered started to hit home. A small visitation room (a hard chair with a tiny window) where once, you’d have to pay 12.5 cents to visit your loved one, the intake area where new arrivals were photographed, registered, cleaned and inspected, the holding cells, strip search areas etc.
The minute I rounded the bend to the next area, I experienced a temporary moment of awe. Imagine standing in an open doorway, positioned towards a huge rectanglular area filled with cold, harsh metal bars. It becomes clear that you have entered prison, and for a minute there is a sense of uneasiness.
I counted roughly 500 tiny, uncomfortable cells which were spread out over 5 levels. At the head of the room is the food area, a small shack with holes through which the meals were distributed. A quick count of the tables makes you realize that approximately 100 prisoners can be seated at a time, allowing you some insight in the dining rituals. The small observations and facts spark your imagination; feeding must have occured sequential and per one level at a time.
There are a total of 16 showers on one end, and roughly the same amount on the other end. There isn’t room for comfort, for privacy or for shame; no dividers, curtains or outside-​world amenities to be found. I learned that the bathing ritual involved making the guards aware you’d like to shower by hanging your towel over the bars of your cell, and from the time you were allowed out you would have 20 minutes to leave, do your thing and get back. I wouldn’t survive here on this simple fact, alone.
Climbing the stairs to the different levels the air gets thick, and a heavy feeling comes over me. I am not liking it one bit. I stopped to read the bulletin boards between the different levels, feeling for a moment as if I was a part of ‘them’. Bulletins and notes pre-​dating 2007 inform me about the cost of stamps rising, general code of conduct, and such handy details as the laundry schedule (twice a week).
Apart from the well laid out written and visual information presented, the changing exhibits (during our visit a big part of an exhibit was dedicated towards prison escapes) and prison made ART-​ifacts (paintings, drawings, hand made furniture) the main draw to us was the realness involved with being inside a prison. Walking where countless men have endured unpleasant times and fully realizing that behind the other walls, hundreds more men are locked up, unable to walk out like we were about to.
It was fairly easy for me to disassociate myself with my surroundings; this is not my reality, it will not be my reality and I am free to leave whenever I please. The temporary feelings of despair and slight depression were more difficult to shake off for my partners — in-​crime; both my husband and father walked around and left with a slightly heavy feeling.
In closing, Cell Block 7 is thought provoking, raw, and incredibly fascinating. This newest addition to the Ella Sharp organization has been opened since June 2014, and has limited visiting hours as listed on their website. Currently, Monday — Thursday is reserved for groups, and general admission has limited hours between Friday, Saturday, and Sunday.