- Old Newgate Prison
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Old New-Gate Prison
Location: Newgate Road, East Granby, Connecticut Coordinates: 41°57′42.89″N 72°44′44.01″W / 41.9619139°N 72.7455583°WCoordinates: 41°57′42.89″N 72°44′44.01″W / 41.9619139°N 72.7455583°W Built: 1775 Architect: Unknown Governing body: State NRHP Reference#: 70000839 Significant dates Added to NRHP: October 15, 1970[1] Designated NHL: November 28, 1972[2] Old Newgate Prison was a Colonial American prison in what is now East Granby, Connecticut. It is now a historic site.
The prison was originally a copper mine, opened in 1705, and is believed to be the first copper mine in America. After mining operations proved unprofitable, the colony of Connecticut converted it to a prison, like its London namesake Newgate Prison. The first prisoner, John Hinson, was committed for burglary in 1773. Later Tories and Loyalists were held here during the American Revolutionary War. In 1790 it became a state prison, the first such in America. After the prison closed in 1827 mining operations resumed for a time, but since the 1860s it has been mainly a tourist attraction. Nearby Peak Mountain offers a bird's eye view of Old Newgate Prison from the Metacomet Trail.
In 1972 Old Newgate Prison was declared a National Historic Landmark.[2][3] The site is now owned and administered by the State of Connecticut as a museum.
In 2006 an episode of Treasure Hunters sent the contestants to the prison.
It is closed to the public for all of 2010 for restoration.[4]
Postcard from late 1910s, early 1920s
View of same wall as Postcard in 2010References
- ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. 2007-01-23. http://nrhp.focus.nps.gov/natreg/docs/All_Data.html.
- ^ a b "Old New-Gate Prison". National Historic Landmark summary listing. National Park Service. http://tps.cr.nps.gov/nhl/detail.cfm?ResourceId=1023&ResourceType=Site. Retrieved 2007-10-03.
- ^ Charles W. Snell (January 4, 1972). National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination: Old Newgate Prison and Copper MinePDF (304 KiB). National Park Service and Accompanying 6 photos, exterior and interior, from 1971.PDF (1.00 MiB)
- ^ http://www.cultureandtourism.org/cct/cwp/view.asp?a=2127&q=302258&cctPNavCtr=%7C#43551
External links
U.S. National Register of Historic Places Topics Lists by states Alabama • Alaska • Arizona • Arkansas • California • Colorado • Connecticut • Delaware • Florida • Georgia • Hawaii • Idaho • Illinois • Indiana • Iowa • Kansas • Kentucky • Louisiana • Maine • Maryland • Massachusetts • Michigan • Minnesota • Mississippi • Missouri • Montana • Nebraska • Nevada • New Hampshire • New Jersey • New Mexico • New York • North Carolina • North Dakota • Ohio • Oklahoma • Oregon • Pennsylvania • Rhode Island • South Carolina • South Dakota • Tennessee • Texas • Utah • Vermont • Virginia • Washington • West Virginia • Wisconsin • WyomingLists by territories Lists by associated states Other Categories:- East Granby, Connecticut
- Defunct prisons in Connecticut
- 1773 establishments in the Thirteen Colonies
- National Historic Landmarks in Connecticut
- Ruins in the United States
- Museums in Hartford County, Connecticut
- Prison museums in Connecticut
- Government buildings on the National Register of Historic Places in Connecticut
- Mining in Connecticut
- Copper mines in the United States
- United States prison stubs
- Connecticut Registered Historic Place stubs
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