Folsom Prison Museum

Museum inside California's oldest prison, with Johnny Cash history

Folsom State Prison opened in 1880 and is one of the oldest prisons in California. The small museum inside covers the prison's history through photographs, artefacts, and exhibits on prison life — including the notorious granite-quarrying operation that inmates worked for decades. The gift shop, staffed by inmates, sells handicrafts and is genuinely worth a visit.

The address is House 8, Old Folsom Prison, Natoma Street. Call ahead to confirm hours: 916/985-2561.

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A story
On 13 January 1968, Johnny Cash walked into the dining hall here and played two sets before an audience of 2,000 inmates. The resulting album, *At Folsom Prison*, became one of the best-selling live albums in history and turned Cash into a folk hero for a generation who felt the system had dealt them a bad hand. Cash later said the audience that day was "the most enthusiastic I ever played for."