Our Texas Thanksgiving – Part 11 – The Texas Prison Museum, Huntsville, TX

The Friday after Thanksgiving, we said our goodbyes and it was time to start our trek back home. Our journey home led us mostly the same way we went to Texas, with the exception of going straight north rather than going back down through Galveston. We were headed back to Oklahoma, where were staying the night, with another overnight stay in Hays, KS with Larry’s mom Ollie as well, before coming home. It was another long driving day ahead of us, but we did make one interesting stop.

As we were coming driving through Dallas on our trip down to Beaumont and Sugarland, we saw something for The Texas Prison Museum in Huntsville that sounded intriguing to us. So on the way back home, we stopped in and paid it a visit. It was really interesting. The information is kept up to date so a lot of it is current and still pertinent today (latest update was 2018).

Life is hard in prison, as it is supposed to be, especially for the hardened criminals. Things have dramatically improved though since the early days and prison reforms are still changing and improving conditions for prisoners all the time. But it is no cakewalk, nor should it be.

The 85% Rule

The “85% rule” in prison, often part of Truth in Sentencing (TIS) laws, mandates that offenders convicted of violent or serious crimes must serve at least 85% of their imposed prison sentence before becoming eligible for parole or early release, significantly limiting good time credits and ensuring greater certainty that violent offenders stay incarcerated longer. It originated from federal incentives in the 1990s for states to adopt stricter sentencing, targeting crimes involving the use or threat of physical force.

We learned a lot of very interesting things. Like a lot of prisons, the inmates were/are expected to work. Many of the inmates are very talented craftsmen and women who make and sell all kinds of things, from art, leatherwork, woodworks and much more. A lot of inmates work and train dogs and other animals too. Here are some of the beautifully crafted items made by the inmates. Some are for sale to the public too. We bought a beautiful wood carved angel Christmas ornament, but we ended up giving it to Ollie, since she collects angels. I am seriously thinking of purchasing another one for me though. The inmates get to keep a portion of the money they earn, with some of it going to purchasing their needed supplies, and some of it goes towards the prisons for their care. Being able to work and create these beautiful items is a privilege, and the inmates have to earn the right to be able to work on such things.

There even used to be a Texas Prison Rodeo that ran from 1931 – 1986. It was called “”The Wildest Show Behind Bars”. It featured inmates in thrilling, sometimes dangerous, rodeo events like bull riding and “Hard Money,” raising funds for inmate welfare while drawing huge crowds and famous performers, but faced criticism for exploitation before ending due to funding issues and structural repairs needed for the arena. The prison rodeo performers never felt like they were being exploited though. Instead, they felt free and “normal” and proud to be a part of the rodeos. The Texas Prison Rodeo started in 1931 during the Great Depression as an income source and entertainment for prisoners and staff. Over the years, it evolved into a massive event, becoming one of Texas’ biggest sporting spectacles, attracting up to 100,000 people. A lot of top performers, such as Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson and George Strait would go to entertain the crowds too. The final rodeo was held in October 1986, with funding shortfalls for arena repairs cited as a primary reason for its discontinuation. The rodeo ended because the state began getting money from the federal government for educational and recreational programs for the inmates. Texas no longer needed to raise money to buy educational and recreational materials.

The Texas prison system has housed many people, from all walks of life, including many famous people, from sports stars to musicians to authors and TV personalities.

The Texas Prison Museum shares the grounds with the Vietnam Veterans Museum as well, but we didn’t have time to go through that. Next time. We did walk around a bit on the outside though.

There are so many interesting things to see and do when traveling, whether in your own backyard or some place new. Larry and I are open to experiencing all that we can and are always open to learning more and seeing more, everywhere we go. We try it all. You just never know what you’re going to find. Keep an open mind, and all kinds of interesting things will come your way. 🙂

Have a great day and make everyday great. Stay safe and stay well. Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas. ‘Til next time.