East End in Boise in Ada County, Idaho — The American West (Mountains)

Women’s Ward

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 26, 2023

1. Women's Ward Marker

Inscription. Female inmates were housed here from 1905-1968. Male inmates built the sandstone wall in 1905, and the dormitory inside in 1920. The small ward held between two and twenty women at any given time.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Notable Buildings. A significant historical year for this entry is 1905.

Location. 43° 36.183′ N, 116° 9.699′ W. Marker is in Boise, Idaho, in Ada County. It is in East End. It is on Old Penitentiary Road, on the left when traveling east. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 2444 Old Penitentiary Rd, Boise ID 83712, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is on Idaho’s Snake River Plain.

It is also in the American Mountain West.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 2 miles of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Trusty Dorm (a few steps from this marker); Sally Port (within shouting distance of this marker); Bishops’ House (within shouting distance of this marker); Warden’s House (about

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300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Idaho State Penitentiary (about 300 feet away); Robin Harviel (approx. 1.3 miles away); Children’s Home Society of Idaho (approx. 1.3 miles away); a different marker also named Children’s Home Society of Idaho (approx. 1.3 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Boise.

Regarding Women’s Ward. This building resides within the Old Idaho State Penitentiary historic district, a former prison complex, that was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 26, 2023

2. Women’s Ward Marker

Women’s Ward image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 26, 2023

3. Women’s Ward

Women’s dormitory image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 26, 2023

4. Women’s dormitory

Women’s dormitory room image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 26, 2023

5. Women’s dormitory room

Photographed by Douglass Halvorsen, June 26, 2023

6. Women’s Ward Marker

One of many interpretive displays inside the former women's dormitory.

Credits. This page was last revised on March 4, 2025. It was originally submitted on March 4, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. This page has been viewed 114 times since then and 27 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on March 4, 2025, by Douglass Halvorsen of Klamath Falls, Oregon. • J. Makali Bruton was the editor who published this page.