Iowa prison officials are planning a public tours on two days in October, of the Old Prison at Fort Madison, which was built in 1839.
The 90-minute tours are scheduled for October 7th and 8th, running 8am to 5pm each day.
The daily tour capacity will be capped at 1,000 people. Officials are expecting the tours on both days to sell out quickly.
Rebecca Bowker of the Department of Corrections says they hosted a tour in May, and 3,500 people showed up. She says they had to turn away hundreds more. She says Fort Madison hotels were booked, with people wanting to check out the historic prison.
Tickets for the October tours are $15 for those 12 and over. The proceeds will be used to help pay for an Historic Structures Report, which is prescribed by the National Park Service.
Bowker says the study will formerly evaluate the site's condition and provide recommendations as to the adaptive re-use. The HSR report is expected to cost between $150,000 and $200,000 dollars.
Corrections officials are also hoping for state grant money to help offset the cost.
Tickets are only available on line. To order click HERE
The public is asked to direct questions to isipinfo@iowa.gov or by calling 319-376-4842.