8 replies to this topic

[cw68]

My parents and sister are in town and the prison gift shop came up as an interest. Googling quickly on my phone I couldn't find any hours. Does anyone know their hours or anything? Thx

[MrsTuffPaws]

I have the feeling that the gift shop closed years ago, but I think the museum is still open (but don't quote me on either). When we went the first time, we were turned away because my husbands clothes (blue jeans and a Tshirt) looked too much like prisoner garb.

http://www.folsomprisonmuseum.org/

That website doesn't look very up to date, but you could give them a call.

[Deb aka Resume Lady]

I also vaguely recall that the gift shop closed a few years back.

[camay2327]

We were there about a year ago and they were selling some items but not sure how much they had.

[john]

They have a few things like t-shirts and such in the history museum... the "prison gift shop" was closed a few years ago - it was run by low-security prisoners selling things like jewelry and such. They had problems with smuggling in/out of the prison through the gift shop so it was closed.

[4thgenFolsomite]

the prison gift store was GREAT back in the 1970s and 1980s. you could buy all these fun wood toys and hand-tooled leather items the prisoners made at great prices. they had things like toys of cons wearing striped uniforms and western purses and belts. they also had some pretty hideous paintings on velvet. and it was a trip, because the trustees ran the place (trustees are prisoners they trust) and sold you things in their denim blues. ah, the good old days.

[UncleVinny]

I also vaguely recall that the gift shop closed a few years back.

There used to be a gift shop next to the Post Office there, but they found the inmates were stealing and scamming. (Big surprise.)

Now the gifts are sold in the Museum, which is manned by volunteers.

Too bad . . . I liked the old shop, as it used to sell artwork and crafts from the inmates, but now all you can buy is commercial items.

[fromhnl]

[quote name='4thgenFolsomite' timestamp='1302561124' post='414915']
the trustees ran the place (trustees are prisoners they trust)

NEGATIVE. Just to clarify, trustees in jail or prison are inmates aka prisoners. Prisoners/inmates are never "trusted." They are usually classified trustee status based on a variety of factors such as
their behavior while incarcerated, crimes committed, street affiliations, need for pc or not, level of security status in prison or jail and so on. Back in the day in linear designed jails and prisons, trustees were given trustee status because they were the tank boss and there wasn't anyone else brave enough to challenge or compete for the special benefits of being a trustee.

[4thgenFolsomite]

hard to say. the guards told me they were called trustees because they were low risk (therefore more trusted that the others). but that was 30 years ago. what do I know. nothin', I tell ya, nothin'!