Folsom State Prison is the second oldest prison in California and the first prison in the United States to have electricity. Opened in 1880, it was one of the first maximum security prisons in the country, known for the harsh and merciless conditions within the prison walls. Well-known inmates that have done time at Folsom include Charles Manson, Ed Kemper, Sonny Barger and Danny Trejo.
In 1953, musician Johnny Cash was inspired to write the song “Folsom Prison Blues”, which was written from the perspective of an inmate after he watched the film “Inside The Walls of Folsom Prison”. Cash ended up playing two legendary concerts at the prison as well as recording a live album.
Folsom Prison is located on surprisingly scenic and peaceful grounds in the town of Represa, California. We even saw deer grazing right near the gate. There is a Johnny Cash museum on site that has merchandise for sale and several unique artifacts from the old prison. We were not allowed to drive through the first entrance gate to park in front of the museum (we parked in the large parking area outside the entrance) but there are several opportunities for photos which are clearly marked with signs. The dogs were able to come with us to the perimeter just outside the locked prison gate to get their picture taken. It’s important to remember that this is still an active medium-security prison. A good rule of thumb is to ask if you aren’t sure if you can do something. You have to walk past several armed corrections officers to get to the area to take pictures and they will not hesitate to inform you of the rules if you ask them.