Kingston Pen - Outside and in

The first time we sailed to Kingston in 2008, we had looked at Portsmouth Olympic Marina as a place to stay, but it seemed weird to be moored beside a real penitentiary, so we continued on to downtown Kingston.  The penitentiary closed in 2013, so on this trip, we found a dock here.

Kingston Penitentiary (KP) first opened in 1835, had it's first major renovation in 1885, was designated a National Historic Site in 1990, and closed it's doors to inmates in 2013.  It is now open for public tours, but long term plans are unknown.

We took a tour of the pen in the afternoon.  In addition to our guide Amy, a number of retired staff who had worked at KP shared stories of life in the various areas of the complex - the main cell block, damaged in the last major riot in 1971, the school and work building where inmates could work towards completing their high school education and learn a trade, the treatment centre where inmates were treated for addiction, mental health, and age related illnesses.  The buildings are made of locally sourced limestone, and are quite imposing.  Some of the cells had artwork done by inmates, which was left when they were relocated.

Later in the day, we had dinner at the local pub - The Portsmouth Tavern.  We came across a group of cyclists from the Niagara area, who were participating in a cancer fundraising relay ride around Lake Ontario - the Wellspring Tour du Lac.  The group we met had just ridden in from near Trenton - 93 km into a headwind.  I think they earned their pint.