What happens to a prison after it has served its time? Many obsolete, inefficient and reprehensible prisons have morphed into tourist attractions that invite visitors behind bars to encounter several distinct varieties of experiences. Some prison museums pursue an overt political agenda, usually by exposing the inhumane depredations of a previous regime or foreign conquerors. Other localities attempt to make points about developments in the science of penology. Still others - believe it or not - mainly want visitors to have a creepy sort of good time. What recycled prisons have in common is an implicit desire to scare straight potential miscreants and make guests aware that, however much they enjoy the experience, they're awfully lucky to be "just visiting."
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