correctional service of canada museum

476markg

A great museum showing all the different aspects of correctional life not just for the officers but the offenders they oversee on a daily basis.

Jocb33

Excellent museum, lots of interesting artifacts Great history of corrections. Free and the retired corrections guides have a lot of inretesting grants to share.

298KevinM

Fascinating and disturbing history of Canada's prison system and the Kingston Penitentiary. The staff were extremely helpful and informative and former guards to boot. Artefacts were well laid out with easily read descriptions. One of Kingston's best museums.

123DISGUSTED2014

I have worked as a Correctional Officer for many years. When I visit the museum the History was very interesting. They have weapons that Inmates have made. Escape methods inmates have tried. They have old ways they used to punish the prisoners. Even for an Officer that sees it everyday, it is very interesting. A must see

BigguyKingston

It was interesting to see how we interned convicts and see the items that the convicts had made. The tour is run by retired prison guards. There is a free will collection at the tours end.

A-847

Entrance fee by donation. We spent more than an hour touring the museum. A retired jail guard shared many stories and his experiences of being a guard. He told of some of the very well known prisoners that had been behind bars here. He was very informative.The Kingston Penitentiary is directly across the street. No tours are being offered even though it closed in 2013.

TheBoydCrew

Who on earth closes an attraction during the weekend. Pick two weekdays to close and stay open on weekends. You will have way more people walking through your door on any weekend than any week day. This is just lazy...

TetaS

This is also called the Penitentiary museum on Trip Advisor, and both refer to the same place. The curator and the volunteers were full of interesting stories. Take the time to sit down at the computer that gives the history of the corrections system; there is a lot to learn.And as everyone else has said; give a donation!The penitentiary next door is no longer used, and the hope is that at least part of the building will be saved as a museum, although the prospects for that do not look good.

fiddlertwin

I have been here a few times with different people and its always interesting! Great exhibits and I really like the part with all the stuff that prisoners have managed to make with contraband. If there is a retired guard working when you visit its worth it to get them to take you around the museum. They have fantastic stories and offer some great insight in to the prison. Worth a visit!

conrad456

it was a nice informative museum, but it was small. it was free so it relies only on donations, please give even a dollar and it will grow and make it free for others to see.

kimn641

This is a great place to spend some time while in Kingston. Located in what was once the Warden's home directly across from the penitentiary, admission is free (donations are appreciated if you wish) There is a lot to see from replica prison cells past and present, to actual confiscated contraband, deadly weapons made by inmates and lots more! Very interesting and informative!

BRIANA284

Although not a dramatic immersion-type museum (the actual penitentiary is not open for touring), the displays provided a bit of insight into prison life and the history of the correctional system. Although the museum is self-guided, there was a retired guard on site who told some interesting stories. There are many examples of the productivity of prisoners, including art and some very clever weapons.

932pierrelucl

Free entry (donations accepted), free parking, great content. The only downside is that you can read absolutely everything and probably be done in under an hour an a half. A casual visit would probably be about an hour long.

290JohnT

This museum is amazing and very interesting and the staff are very knowledgeable its defiantly a must see if you have a chance when in Kingston.

Jacquiez

This is a great look into the Correctional Service history of our country. Awesome display of well preserved objects. Although the museum is small it has a lot of very interesting things. Was lucky enough to meet a retired CO that worked at Kingston Pen (it is directly across the street). He volunteers twice a week to give visitors his experiences while working at K.P. We had a wonderful and interesting conversation about K.P. If this is the sort of thing that interests you then you will love this. No admission charge for the Museum but give a donation so that they may maintain this great piece of history.