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Site of planned Sing Sing Prison Museum: former power house serving the prison. Plans for the 2025 targeted opening were announced today in Ossining.

WPCNR County Clarion Ledger. By John F. Bailey. February 15, 2018:

Just outside Sing Sing Prison this afternoon County Executive George Latimer, the Mayor of Ossining, Assembly woman Sandy Galef and other dignataries announced a $25 Million to $30 Million project to create a museum of prison history, focusing on Sing Sing Prison which is approaching its 200th anniversary of its founding in 1825.

The project seeks to renovate the abandoned power house (adjacent the entrance to the prison) into a 4 story museum.

The project, Latimer said, would generate 135,000 visitors to the facility and the town of Ossining, generating 230 full-time jobs, plus construction jobs. The Mayor of Ossining, Victoria Gearity (left) hailed the project as bringing a halo affect of jobs and revenue to the city. Sandy Galef, Assemblywoman, right, thanked Mr. Latimer for throwing the County support for the project. Latimer said the county may contribute funds to the project, depending on how the county budget unfolds in 2018.

The project director said the museum would contain memorabilia and exhibits of the Sing Sing past, including a model of an electric chair; uniforms of guards and prisoners, typical cells, and lecture halls.

There would be a movie theater that would exhibit prison-based films. He also said there would be exhibits emphasizing  the rehabilitation of prisoners that has made Sing Sing a model of  incarceration success with a recidivism rate of  released prisoners, just 4% compared to other prison average of as high as 70%.

Sing Sing Prison Museum expects to renovate the rusted girders  and railingless stairways leading to its upper floors and replace windows of the old power house by the beginning of 2019. By the end of 2019 they expect to complete design and exhibit plans. The project is expected to be completed tentatively in the beginning of 2025.

A major feature of the museum will be restoration of the original 1825 cell block shown here in the heart of the Sing Sing complex, which will be connected to the museum building,

Ms. Gold said the cost of the project is expected to be at least $25 Million or higher.The County Executive said the county might contribute financing to the project depending on how the county financial status evolves.

The wall of Sing Sing Prison today.