Women's Prison

Women's Prison/Maximum Security 1907

The first women who were incarcerated in Montana were housed on the third floor of the Federal Building, which housed the men on the lower floors. The need for a separate women's facility outside the walls soon became apparent. The women were housed in this facility until 1959.

	The Women's Prison consisted of two large dorm-style areas, a kitchen and dining area, a laundry room and matron's quarters. A hospital room was added in 1926.
	The number of women incarcerated in Montana at any one time was usually fewer than ten.
	The women were moved to a building across Main Street, now the Powell County Museum, and later to Warm Springs.
	The wooden structure beside this building was used as a visiting booth for maximum security. Inmates were allowed visitor privileges for 30 minutes per month.