1990: Folsom Prison prints calendar of historic photos

August 13, 2026

In 1989, Folsom State Prison’s vocational graphic arts class designed and printed a 1990 calendar packed with historic photos and bits of information about the institution.

The following are scans from the calendar. At the time, the graphic arts class was taught by James E. Kinley and Darry Kreuzberg.

Below left is the Folsom locomotive, circa 1890. It was used to transport crushed rock sold to state and county agencies for 30 cents per cubic yard. Below right is the Hospital Ward, circa 1900, in the Officers and Guards Building. In the center is shown a large group of people standing in front of the Administration Building.

Folsom State Prison Locomotive, circa 1890, from a 1990 calendar produced by the institution's graphic arts program.

Hospital ward, circa 1900, Folsom State Prison 1990 calendar. The ward was in the Officers and Guards building.

Before the walls were completed in the 1920s, the Administration Building served as the front of the institution where wagons and trains picked up and dropped off visitors. Also, incarcerated people being transported by sheriffs from county jails were processed into the prison on the side of the building.

Calendar offers snapshots of life

Mrs. Reilly and daughter Vivian in the flower garden, now part of the main yard at Folsom State Prison in 1910. The warden and his family lived on the third floor of the Officers and Guards building.

Officers and Guards building at Folsom State Prison, circa 1905-1910. Notice horse and wagon tracks leading from the lower yard and stable on the right.

Above left, Mrs. Reilly and her daughter Vivian stand in the flower garden in 1910. The garden is now part of the main yard. The warden and his family lived inside the walls on the third floor of the Officers and Guards Building. Above right, “Officers and Guards Building at Folsom State Prison, circa 1905-1910. Notice horse and wagon tracks leading from the lower yard and stable on the right,” the calendar states.

The oldest photo of Folsom state Prison, dated 1885, published in the calendar over 100 years later. — *Oldest photo of Folsom State Prison, 1885.*

The calendar notes the “oldest available photo” of the prison, circa 1885, was taken before there was a West Gate and upper yard. According to the calendar, “the upper yard was later created by wheelbarrow loads of dirt from the lower yard quarries.”

Working prison

One of three quarries at Folsom State Prison, this one in the lower yard, circa 1915. The incarcerated people are wearing striped uniforms.

Warden Robert Heinze in the license plate factory in 1950 as the institution prepares to receive new equipment.

The rock quarry at Folsom Prison, shown above left circa 1915, was one of three at the institution. This one was in the lower yard. The workers were still wearing striped uniforms. Above right, Warden Heinze poses with a sledgehammer as the institution prepared to receive new license plate equipment in the 1950s.

Did you know? Every California license plate is still printed at Folsom State Prison, now a program of the California Correctional Training and Rehabilitation Authority (CALCTRA).

Kitchen and Bakery in the 1940s. It was gutted by fire in 1947.

The Kitchen and Bakery, circa 1940, was gutted by fire in 1947, according to the calendar. In the two historic photos below, are the dam at the prison as it overflowed, undated, and logs are sent down the canal to be turned into railroad ties in this 1905-1910 photo.

Dam on the river near the prison overflowed in this undated photo.

Logs are floated down the canal near Folsom Prison circa 1905-1910.

The final two photos show the prison from two angles, taken 20 years apart. The photo below left shows Folsom Prison from China Hill, circa 1910. Meanwhile, the photo on the right shows the prison as it was in 1890, taken from across the river.