Melissa Etheridge Tour #7: United States Penitentiary

1300 Metropolitan Avenue - DRIVE BY ONLY. Do not drive onto prison property. To pull over and view the Penitentiary from a scenic overlook, proceed to the parking lot across the street from 1709 Metropolitan Avenue, just west of the Metropolitan Steak House.

The first mention of this prison was on Melissa's 5th album, "Your Little Secret," in the song "Nowhere to Go" when she sings Past the Walmart and the Prison. On her 7th album, "Skin," she wrote an entire song called "The Prison."

Leavenworth and the word "prison" have been made synonymous over the years, mostly thanks to the the power of the silver screen. Leavenworth, Fort Leavenworth and the neighboring city of Lansing have four occupied prisons between them. These facilities do not allow public tours, but you may visit the First City Museum at 742 Delaware Street on Thursdays and Saturdays to see its extensive jail and prison displays.

Two former, unoccupied prisons in the area do allow visitors:

You can walk the grounds of the original U.S. Disciplinary Barracks, or "USDB" for short, on Fort Leavenworth, and read about the buildings and residents on the tour kiosk in the courtyard. Much of the large "castle" structure that housed the military inmates was demolished in 2004.

The original Kansas State Penitentiary in Lansing hosts weekend tours from March to October each year. Guests ages 12 and older are welcome, and most tours are led by former guards and wardens who know the property well. For more information, visit LansingKansasHistory.com.