Prison construction began in 1872, and the facility was fully operational by 1874. The facility has massive outer walls and crenelated towers that give it the appearance of a medieval fortress. Flower beds inside and outside the facility and stone lions guarding the entrance to the administration building add to the reformatory's appearance. The prison administrator believes that keeping the grounds attractive is important to prison life. The facility's interior resembles a small, self-contained city, with a complex of cell blocks and support buildings. The 13-acre site is home to about 1,200 inmates, 350 more than the facility was designed to accommodate. Another 1,400 acres outside the prison serve as the location for the prison farm, vegetable gardens, and additional support facilities. Many inmates work in prison industries, at jobs that include metal stamping, printing, custom woodworking, tire recapping, sign making, laundry product repackaging, and metal furniture making. Basic education classes are also available, as well as training in auto body work, welding, and janitorial services.