Visiting the famous Prison Museum in Ushuaia

Discover the History of Ushuaia at the Prison Museum

If you’re intrigued by the origins and past of Ushuaia, a visit to the Prison Museum — also known as the Maritime and Presidio Museum — is a must. Wandering through its narrow hallways and peering into the former prison cells transports visitors to a different era. Inside, you’ll find fascinating artifacts such as paintings and furniture crafted by inmates, molds used for manufacturing tiles, heartfelt letters sent to loved ones, and authentic shackles worn during labor.

Entering the preserved historic wing feels like stepping back in time. Here, Argentina’s most dangerous felons — identified only by numbers — were once confined. Some became infamous, including Mateo Banks, a mass murderer known as “the Mystic,” Cayetano Santos Godino, ominously nicknamed “the Short-Eared Monster,” and the anarchist Simón Radowitzky.

Within these walls, strict order prevailed. Inmates who demonstrated good behavior were permitted to work outside the prison, typically logging in forests accessed by train. Through various workshops, the incarcerated helped build and support the fledgling city. They were responsible for constructing roads, bridges, public structures, and even delivering essential services like Ushuaia’s first electricity, printing press, and telephone system — all from within the prison complex.

Inside the Ushuaia Prison Museum: A Journey Through Time

The history of the National Penitentiary in Ushuaia dates back to September 15, 1902, when construction began using inmate labor. The building was completed by 1920. In 1904, Director Catello Muratgia reported to the Minister of Justice and Public Education, detailing progress and administration.

In 1911, Argentina’s president ordered the merger of the Military Prison with the Prison for Repeat Offenders in Ushuaia. Early plans envisioned a penal colony housing up to 580 inmates in the Lapataia area, close to the Chilean border, with 2,500 hectares allocated for the facility. By 1920, the prison complex included five cell blocks, each containing 76 external cells. Although it featured 386 individual cells, the prison population exceeded 600 at its peak.

The kitchen was constructed between Pavilion 1 (the historical wing) and Pavilion 2, while the bakery sat between Pavilions 1 and 5. Administrative offices overlooked the bay, and workshops were housed in detached buildings. A modern hospital opened in 1943, later repurposed as the Naval Base hospital, which served as the region’s main medical center for many years.

Prisoners — often those convicted of serious crimes — were required to engage in paid labor and basic education, under a regime of tight control. The institution featured over 30 labor divisions, some of which operated outside the prison grounds. Inmates helped meet both internal needs and those of the surrounding town. Their projects included road and bridge construction, forestry, and the establishment of what would become the southernmost railway in the world, built in 1910.

The prison ceased operations in March 1947 under a decree by President Juan Domingo Perón, and the building was handed over to the Ministry of the Navy, becoming the Ushuaia Naval Base. In 1997, it was designated a National Historic Monument, and restoration efforts began under the direction of the Civil Association of the Maritime Museum of Ushuaia, which now manages public visits.

The Jail Museum and the Train of the End of the World: A Shared Legacy

The Presidio Museum and the Train of the End of the World share a deep historical and geographical link, forming key parts of Ushuaia’s heritage.

Both are located near or within Tierra del Fuego National Park, and both played significant roles in the area’s development. The train line was originally built by prisoners to transport timber and supplies from the forest to the town — it later became a scenic tourist railway offering visitors a journey through the stunning Patagonian wilderness.

The tracks retrace the original route used for prison labor, giving modern-day travelers a powerful sense of the hardships once endured here.

Today, both the museum and the train serve as educational and cultural attractions, helping visitors understand Ushuaia’s early years as a remote penal settlement and appreciate the remarkable transformations the city has undergone since then.

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Famous prisoners at the Ushuaia Prison

The Prison Museum in Ushuaia, formerly known as the National Prison of Ushuaia, housed some of Argentina’s most infamous criminals during its operation from the early 20th century until its closure in 1947. Here are a few of the notorious inmates who became part of Argentine criminal folklore:

Cayetano Santos Godino – “El Petiso Orejudo” (“The Short-Eared Little One”)
Possibly the most infamous prisoner in Ushuaia’s history.

A serial killer and child murderer, Godino was imprisoned as a teenager for a string of brutal crimes committed in Buenos Aires.

Known for his strange appearance, behavior, and lack of remorse, he became a symbol of psychopathy in Argentine criminology.

His cell is among the most visited at the museum today.

Mateo Banks – “El Místico” (“The Mystic”)

A multiple murderer, Mateo Banks was convicted for the massacre of eight people, including family members, in 1922.

His case shocked the nation due to his high social status and cold-blooded actions.

He earned the nickname “El Místico” for his religious and moralistic façade, which contrasted with his violent crimes.

Simón Radowitzky

A political prisoner and anarchist, Radowitzky was imprisoned for the assassination of Buenos Aires police chief Ramón Falcón in 1909.

He became a symbol of resistance for anarchist and leftist movements across Latin America.

His case stirred international debate on human rights and prison conditions.

These individuals, while very different in motive and background, helped shape the legend of Ushuaia’s prison as a remote outpost for Argentina’s most feared and problematic convicts. The museum today offers a haunting glimpse into their lives, through original cells, exhibits, and documentation of their crimes and incarceration.

How to Visit the Ushuaia Prison Museum

The Maritime and Presidio Museum is housed in the original Ex-Presidio building, once a facility for repeat offenders and some of Argentina’s most notorious criminals. The museum is centrally located, just steps from San Martín Street, Ushuaia’s main avenue.

Visitors can either explore the museum independently or join a city tour that includes entry to this fascinating site. A walk through the museum offers a profound glimpse into the past — one filled with stories of hardship, resilience, and the foundations of the city at the End of the World.

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The Ushuaia Pass and the Prison Museum in Ushuaia

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