"Located within the Ohio State Reformatory this jail cell contains 600 different cells for its inmates. Not only can you walk alongside the free-standing jail cell you also have the option of entering one of these supposedly haunted rooms. The very brave (or crazy) can spend the night in this haunted attraction. Guided and self-guided tours are available," the Travel Inspired Driving reports..

"If you’ve watched the movie, The Shawshank Redemption, you’ve seen the Mansfield Prison, or Ohio State Reformatory as it’s officially called. The East Cell Block is the highest free standing steel cell block in the world. You won’t see this wing of the prison in the movie, but the six-tier East Cell block boasts 600, 7″ x 9″ cells that would have held two men and provided literally no privacy. In later years, it was referred to as the jungle and held more violent prisoners. The prison remained open with prisoners until 1990.

"In addition to the Shawshank movie filming site, the prison has been the filming location for scenes from Air Force One, Tango and Cash, several music videos and numerous paranormal shows. For those that are extra brave (or foolish, you pick), overnight ghost hunting stays are available."

"It opened in 1886 while it was still under construction, which had started about ten years earlier. The grounds were previously used for Union soldier training during the Civil War. Inmates helped build the East Cell Block, which then began housing some of those very laborers in 1910," the Ohio Traveler reports.

'This cell block is proclaimed to be the world’s largest, free-standing, steel cell block, according to the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society. It stands six-tiers high holding 600 cells that once had 1,200 inmates. The West Cell Block has five tiers and 350 cells which sometimes held as many as four men each.

"The prison’s artful deterioration is one of its strongest focal points. The way its lead-based paint has cracked and curled created a bizarre beauty out of decay. What is now interestingly photogenic was an eyesore and health risk to the last prisoners who lived there before it was finally closed in 1990. By then, some 155,000 boys and men had spent time locked up there."

"The Ohio State Reformatory (OSR), also known as the Mansfield Reformatory, is a historic prison located in Mansfield, Ohio in the United States. It was built between 1886 and 1910 and remained in operation until 1990, when a United States Federal Court ruling (the 'Boyd Consent Decree') ordered the facility to be closed.

"While this facility was seen in a number of films (including several while the facility was still in operation), TV shows and music videos, it was made famous by the film The Shawshank Redemption (1994) when it was used for most scenes of the movie.

"The Ohio State Reformatory is currently open to tourists 4 days a week from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. from April 1 to September 2. There are also tours on weekends from February 2 to March 31 and holiday tours on weekends from November 23 to December 23. The East Cell Block remains the largest free-standing steel cell block in the world at six tiers high." (Wikipedia)

"Mansfield Reformatory is Hollywood's vision of a prison. Its exterior of rough-hewn rock walls and towers resembles a Romanesque castle or cathedral. Inside, everything is on Goliath scale. There are vast spaces with leprous walls, dangling light fixtures, and sun slanting through empty windows; some nicely restored public rooms (you can host your wedding reception or prom here); and the world's tallest free standing cell block. The terror stink of nearly a century of incarceration still lingers in odd corners: stale food, body odor, urine, dead mice," the Roadside America reports.

"It was only after the reformatory was abandoned and condemned to be demolished in 1991 (a new one was built right behind it), that the history that really matters at Mansfield began. That's when Hollywood discovered the Reformatory, and turned it into the perfect Hollywood prison. Tourists flock to Mansfield today because, well, if you're going to visit a jailhouse, you want one that looks foreboding and is famous.

"Displayed on the ground floor are props such as the hole-in-the-wall and sewage pipe used by Andy Dufresne for his Shawshank escape. Both have their openings sealed with plexiglass, although that wasn't always the case. "We had people from a wedding crawl through there once," said operations manager Susan Nirode. "Their dresses were filthy."

"Often described as Germanic castle architecture, the prison is impressive in scale and construction. Most of the outer wall and support buildings for the prison have been demolished over the past couple of decades, but the main building still stands and is kept in decent conditions by the Mansfield Reformatory Preservation Society, which oversees tours throughout the year," the Atlas Obscura reports.

"The prison’s East Cell Block remains the largest free standing steel cell block in the entire world and is six tiers high. The building is visited by many who believe in the paranormal as it is considered haunted. Several hotspots throughout the building, including the two chapels, the infirmary, the solitary confinement section, and the warden’s office are the most popular among tourists. One of the reasons the building is thought to be haunted is that over 200 people died in and around the prison while it was still in operation, including a handful of guards who were killed during escape attempts.

"Another reason people visit the building is because it was made famous by The Shawshank Redemption starring Morgan Freeman and Tim Robbins. It was used for all of the exterior shots and even some of the interior ones for the 1994 movie."

"Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world's first true "penitentiary," a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of prisoners. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held nearly 85,000 people over its long history, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and "Scarface" Al Capone.

"Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is located at 22nd Street and Fairmount Avenue, just five blocks from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. The penitentiary is currently open for daytime tours every day from 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. We are closed on Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, and New Year’s Day," the Eastern State Penitentiary says.

"Admission includes “The Voices of Eastern State" Audio Tour, narrated by actor Steve Buscemi; a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion; Hands-On History experiences; critically-acclaimed artist installations; and award-winning exhibits."

"We took our three teenagers on a guided tour (very glad we paid extra for the guide and 100% recommend it). This is a very cool building with a ton of history. Our tour included stories, facts and information I don't think would be good for very small children (it's a prison after all) but my teens loved it and were engaged the entire time."

"Tour great. Very much information. The tour went 45 min longer than the 90 min slot."

"Lots of history! Also a must see for any fans of the Shawshank Redemption. Love that the tours are self guided so you can move at your own pace."

"Guides are very knowledgeable and add in some humor on the tour - i suggest getting a guided tour and after you can go on your own.

Place is Awesome ! You must visit this site if you are in the area - also i would suggest people far and wide come too ! You will not be disappointed.'

"A must see for history/paranormal enthusiasts. Fantastic architecture paired with some stories of energies left behind. We did the self tour with the headsets. I recommend watching Shawshank Redemption and documentaries before you go."

World's first true penitentiary: Eastern State Penitentiary sets world record