The Old Newgate Prison Museum is the site of Connecticut's first prison, which was built from the remains of an 18th-century copper mine. Copper was first discovered on the site in 1705 and was one of the few commercial mines in the British colonies until it was abandoned in the 1750s. The Old Newgate Prison opened its doors on December 2, 1773, for male prisoners. The first female prisoners of Old Newgate were incarcerated in 1824. Just three years later, in 1827, the prison was shut down due in part to the high cost of operation, but also because of inhumane practices. Today the guardhouse is the only building that is intact; the remains of the other buildings can be seen over the prison's 12-foot walls.
If you are planning a visit as a large group or a school trip, please send an email to newgate.museum@ct.gov or karin.peterson@ct.gov to schedule your visit. Discounts are available.