Old New-Gate Prison: Connecticut's Underground 'Hell'

The mine descends 75 feet below the Connecticut hillside — and stays a bone-chilling 52°F year-round.

Most people drive right past the turnoff on Newgate Road without thinking twice. There's no flashy billboard, no gift shop visible from the highway. Just a quiet hillside in East Granby and a hand-lettered brown sign pointing toward what is, without exaggeration, one of the darkest addresses in early American history.

Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine is Connecticut's most underrated historic site. Originally chartered in 1707 as the first copper mine in colonial America, it was repurposed in 1773 as the state's — and the nation's — first official state prison. Serious criminals were lowered by ladder directly into the abandoned mine shafts below. Loyalists captured during the Revolutionary War were chained down here in the dark, damp, perpetually 52-degree underground. Guards called it many things. Prisoners called it one: Hell. (Connecticut Magazine recently went inside for a rare look at the site with the current curator — worth a read.)

It closed as a prison in 1827. It reopened as a museum in 2018 after a decade-long restoration. And today, visitors from across New England are quietly rediscovering it as one of the most atmospheric, genuinely haunting historic experiences in the entire Northeast.

The History: From Copper Mine to "Hell"

The story of New-Gate begins not with prisoners, but with copper. In 1707, colonial Connecticut chartered the first copper mine in America on this hillside — a hopeful industrial venture that, over the following decades, proved largely unprofitable. By the 1760s the mine had been mostly abandoned, its tunnels empty and dark.

The Connecticut colonial government had a problem: serious criminals with nowhere to put them. In 1773, they made a decision that would define this place for the next 54 years. The abandoned copper mine shafts would become a prison. The first prisoner, a burglar named John Hinson, was lowered into the tunnels by rope.

Conditions were, by any modern standard, barbaric. Prisoners were confined in the tunnels — cold, perpetually wet, reeking, and barely lit. The floor was covered in human waste. The temperature never climbed above 52 degrees. There was no sunlight. There was no fresh air. The mine wasn't cold enough to kill outright, but it was cold enough that prisoners could never fully warm up — unless they were called topside to labor in the prison workshops above ground, hammering nails and making barrels until they were sent back below.

"Part of the reason it was called Hell was those temps combined with how wet it was. Not quite cold enough to freeze to death for most, but cold enough that you could never get warm until your next shift breaking rock in the mine or topside working in one of the workshops." — r/Connecticut Community

The decision to create a state prison here came as public opinion shifted against corporal punishment — whipping, cropping of ears, branding with hot irons, pillories and stocks. New-Gate was meant to represent reform. In practice, it became something else entirely. The mine tunnels extend into the western side of Talcott Mountain, with some passages only four feet tall that flood seasonally. Marks from early 1700s drilling, blasting, and hand digging are still visible in the walls today — as is a faint green tinge of copper still running through the veins of the stone.

During the Revolutionary War, the prison took on a new and darker role. Loyalists — colonists who remained loyal to the British Crown — were captured and imprisoned alongside common criminals. General George Washington himself personally requested that the mine be used to confine what he called "atrocious villains, so that they cannot possibly make their escape." Loyalist leader Joel Stone, held 40 feet below ground on high treason charges that could have led to his execution, had other ideas. On July 23, 1778, he and another prisoner bribed their way past the guards and vanished into the woods.

Washington's confidence proved misplaced again in 1781, when twenty prisoners — criminals and Loyalists together — staged a mass breakout. As the mine entrance was opened for a routine visit, they overpowered the guards, injured several, and killed one named Gad Sheldon. Sixteen were recaptured. Two Loyalists, Ebenezer Hathaway and Thomas Smith, successfully reached British-held New York City. The fate of the remaining two has never been recorded.

"People often say that this is how prison should be today, which I disagree with, but I also like to remind them that at the time contemporaries were critiquing this place, and they did ultimately shut it down for its inhumane conditions." — Morgan Bengel, Curator & Site Administrator, Old New-Gate Prison & Copper Mine

New-Gate operated as a state prison until 1827, when a new facility opened in Wethersfield and the site was finally deemed too inhumane even by the standards of its era. Mining was attempted twice more — by the Phenix Mining Company (1830–37) and the Connecticut Copper Company (1855–57) — but both efforts failed. Acquired by Connecticut in 1968 and designated a National Historic Landmark in 1972, it was closed for a decade of structural repairs before reopening to visitors in 2018.

What to Expect on Your Visit

A visit to Old New-Gate is split into two distinct experiences: the above-ground prison yard and the underground mine tour. Together they take about 90 minutes to two hours.

"Used to visit as an elementary school child — so fun going down into those caves. Good reminder that Puritans were some hard people." — r/Connecticut Community

One important note: pre-registration for mine tours is not available. Tours depart on a first-come, first-served basis throughout the day. If you're visiting on a busy summer weekend, arrive close to opening time to secure a spot without a long wait.

The Ultimate 1-Day Connecticut Day Trip Itinerary

Don't just drive in and drive home. Make a full adventure out of your trip to East Granby and the beautiful Farmington Valley with this perfect scenic and historic itinerary.

Where to Eat Nearby: Local Food & Drink Guide

Exploring 18th-century dungeons can work up a serious appetite. Here are the absolute best local food and drink spots located within 10 minutes of Old New-Gate Prison:

Other Nearby Hidden Gems to Explore

Maximize your road trip! These other incredible outdoor, historic, and family-friendly destinations are located within a short drive from Old New-Gate Prison. Below are the essential parking and admission details that most other travel guides leave out:

Insider Tips From Locals

Special Events in 2026

This summer and autumn, New-Gate has a genuinely exciting slate of programming beyond the standard tour:

Frequently Asked Questions