Museum of Prisons Introduction
The only preserved Pennsylvania-style prison building in the world - Chiayi Old Prison. The Chiayi Prison was completed and put into operation in the 11th year of the Taisho era (1922), originally named the Chiayi Branch of Tainan Prison. In 1924, it was renamed the Chiayi Branch of Tainan Penal Institution. After 1945, it was called the Third Prison, First Branch. In 1947, it was renamed Taiwan Chiayi Prison and relocated to Lucao Township in March 1994. The old prison was then reestablished as the Chiayi Branch of Chiayi Prison. The internal facilities are well preserved, and the complete hardware and equipment can serve as living teaching materials for legal education and human rights evolution, as well as a showcase for prison administration development. The architectural form, spatial design, and construction methods of the Chiayi Branch are distinctive. Its fan-shaped radial central control system embodies the ideal prototype for inmate containment and control. The workshops and dormitories have high ceilings and are designed with different types of ventilation windows to meet the needs of ventilation, lighting, moisture prevention, and aerial patrols. The doors, windows, and wall panels are made of cypress wood from Alishan, with a special emphasis on being sturdy, durable, and escape-resistant, holding preservation value.
