Ohio State Reformatory

The Ohio State Reformatory, also referred to as the Mansfield Reformatory, is a historic prison located in Mansfield, Ohio. See what it’s like inside.






The imposing edifice known as the Ohio State Reformatory, or the Mansfield Reformatory as it is colloquially called, stands as a grim testament to the annals of incarceration in our nation’s history. Erected between the years 1886 and 1896, its forbidding walls bore witness to the confinement of countless souls until a 1990 federal court mandate saw its iron gates shuttered for good.

However, it was the Reformatory’s indelible role in the critically acclaimed film “The Shawshank Redemption” that etched its name into the collective consciousness of cinephiles worldwide. The crumbling limestone monolith became the haunting backdrop against which the tale of hope and redemption unfolded, its austere visage lending an air of authenticity to the silver screen narrative.

On July 30, 2012, Abandoned hosted a photography event at the Reformatory, allowing early entry into the former prison.






1 Comment

Add Yours →

Leave your comment!

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Discover more from Abandoned

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading