Why the Real Shawshank Prison Was Worse Than the Movie

What happens when a prison becomes more famous after it closes? The Ohio State Reformatory in Mansfield was once a state-of-the-art facility meant to rehabilitate young offenders. But over time, its towering gothic architecture became a symbol of overcrowding, violence, and ghost stories — until it finally shut its doors in 1990.

Today, it’s a hotspot for filmmakers, tourists, and ghost hunters alike — best known as the filming location for The Shawshank Redemption. In this episode, we explore the strange life of the reformatory, from its progressive 19th-century roots to the brutal scandals that defined its later years. You’ll discover how it became both a cinematic icon and one of America’s most haunted places.

#hauntedhistory #ohioreformatory #itshistory

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IT’S HISTORY - Weekly Tales of American Urban Decay as presented by your host Ryan Socash.

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Scriptwriter - Sebastian Ripoll
Editor - Ibrahim Yansaneh
Host - Ryan Socash
Music/Sound Design: Dave Daddario

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Some images may be used for illustrative purposes only - always reflecting the accurate time frame and content. Events of factual error / mispronounced word/spelling mistakes - retractions will be published in this section.