Tennessee State Prison

This Gothic prison opened in 1898 and ran for nearly a century, housing Tennessee's most dangerous inmates. Screams still echo through the empty cell blocks.

Built in 1898, the Tennessee State Prison's imposing Gothic architecture -- with its castle-like turrets and massive stone walls -- housed some of the state's most dangerous criminals for nearly 100 years. The prison witnessed riots, executions, and countless violent deaths within its walls before closing in 1992. During its operation, inmates endured brutal conditions including overcrowding, minimal sanitation, and violence.

Since its closure, the abandoned prison has become one of Nashville's most notorious haunted locations. Visitors on paranormal tours report hearing the sounds of cell bars clunking shut, screams echoing through empty corridors, and heavy footsteps pacing in vacant cell blocks. Dark figures have been seen in the guard towers, and the execution chamber produces intense feelings of dread. The prison has been used as a filming location for movies including The Green Mile and Walk the Line.