Reaching their highest turnout yet, tours at the old Missouri State Penitentiary (MSP) drew more than 25,000 visitors in 2015.
The Jefferson City Convention and Visitors Bureau (CVB) announced Friday that last year's tours attracted 25,945 visitors, the most in one tour season since tours began in 2009.
"We are blown away by the growing interest in the tours and excited to see what the new season has in store," said Katherine Reed, communications manager for the CVB.
The 2015 tours also generated $522,473 in revenue, which, after expenses, left a net profit of $183,000, a large increase from the 2014 net profit of $82,000. Approximately 40 percent of the net profits will fund repairs to the prison, including masonry work in Housing Unit 3, according to a CVB news release. The remaining funds will be used for marketing and future repairs, as outlined in the agreement with the state and city for use of the old prison.
The growth in tours at MSP may be indicative of a larger trend, as Gov. Jay Nixon's office announced Friday that Missouri saw a record 40.4 million visitors in the 2015 fiscal year. Visitors in 2015 spent more than $12.4 billion and supported more than 297,000 jobs.
The 2016 MSP tour season will begin March 1, depending on weather. During this year's tour season, the CVB also will move its offices from the current location on the corner of East High and Jefferson streets to the Col. Darwin W. Marmaduke House, a historical home on the corner of Lafayette Street and Capitol Avenue.
Also known as the Missouri State Penitentiary Warden's House, the building is named for the first prison warden to live in the home upon its completion in 1888. Marmaduke was the brother of Missouri Gov. John Sappington Marmaduke, who led troops into the Battle of Shiloh in 1862 and killed another Confederate general in a duel.
The CVB will lease the first floor and the basement of the Marmaduke House, with the Missouri State Penitentiary Museum going in the basement. The museum itself saw 2,000 visitors in 2015 and is currently located at the CVB office on East High Street.