Field Tripping Again – Ohio State Reformatory and Richland Carrousel Park
Yesterday we headed about an hour up North to Mansfield, Ohio to visit The Ohio State Reformatory.
I didn’t really know what to expect but I did have a few ideas of what I thought a jail would be like. Let me tell you–it was nothing like this!
Somebody with us described it as Hogwarts! The building was absolutely beautiful!
I never did take a picture of the whole building–what was I thinking? It was huge. The grounds were beautiful and did I mention the place was huge? Even with part of the building demolished it was huge. Apparently the back section was torn down before The Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society stepped in to preserve the it. It was really hard for me to listen because I was taking so many pictures but I tried. It was SO very interesting and informative. The kids and I really enjoyed this tour. We plan to go back again sometime soon…after watching The Shawshank Redemption ( filmed there.) Several other movies, videos and photo shoots have also taken place at The Reformatory.
The first two floors were administrative quarters and offices.
Third floor was a chapel.
The rest of the floors were filled with cells—rows and rows of cells.
Little Wayne even filmed a video in this cell!
These are the showers.
This is a really bad picture of the tunnel used in The Shawshank—good thing I took a picture of this-everyone asked if we got to see “the tunnel.”
I just can’t say enough great things about this field trip. If you are anywhere near Richland County and can get to The Ohio State Reformatory you really should try to visit. Help preserve this rich piece of Ohio history by taking a tour.
Just down the road is The Historical Carrousel District in downtown Mansfield. A perfect place to stop for lunch and a ride at The Richland Carrousel Park
Tags: Carrousel District, cells, field trip, Mansfield, mansfield ohio, mansfield reformatory, Ohio, ohio history, ohio state reformatory, Preservation, preservation society, Reformatory, Richland, richland carrousel park, richland county, Shawshank, shawshank redemption, Shawshank---good
Wow! I just found your blog via the Homeschool Blogger’s Haven. I was just in Mansfield last week, visiting my mom! My stepdad was actually in Shawshank Redemption, but I have yet to visit the reformatory myself. My uncle and grandma lived close enough that they were always concerned when there was an escape, so it kind of gives me the heebee-jeebies. But we always visit the carousel! While in Ohio we met up with Jennifer from http://diff-path.blogspot.com/ another awesome Ohio homeschooling blogger! So glad to have discovered your blog!