Most states in the U.S. rely on lethal injection as the primary mode of execution. But there are some which still use or allow other methods including the gas chamber and the electric chair. A few of these execution facilities have been decommissioned, but the great majority remain officially active.
Take a look at America’s death chambers through these haunting collection of photos gathered from photographers, wire services, and from prison archives throughout the United States.
1. Lethal Injection Chamber From Witness Room, Cummins Unit, Grady, Arkansas, 1991
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
2. Gas Chamber, Arizona State Prison, Florence, Arizona, 1992
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
3. Injection Table, San Quentin State Prison, San Quentin, California, 2010
Michael Macor/The San Francisco Chronicle/AP
4. Lethal Injection Chamber, Territorial Correctional Facility, Canon City, Colorado, 1991
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
5. Gallows, Department of Corrections, Smyrna, Delaware, 1991
Delaware tore down its gallows in 2003. Execution are now performed through lethal injection.
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
6. Lethal Injection Gurney, Florida State Prison, Raiford, Florida, Undated
Florida Dept. of Corrections
7. Georgia Diagnostic and Classification Prison, Jackson, Georgia, 2001
Ric Feld/AP/Corbis
8. Electric Chair, Alabama, 1991
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
9. Execution Chamber, Idaho Maximum Security Institution, Boise, Idaho, 2011
Jessie L. Bonne/AP/Corbis
10. Execution Chamber, Indiana State Prison, Michigan City, Indiana, 1995
Indiana Department of Corrections/AP
11. Execution Chamber, Kentucky State Penitentiary, Eddyville, Kentucky, 2004
Stephen Lance Denee/AP
12. Lethal Injection Chamber, Louisiana State Prison, Angola, Louisiana, 1992
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
13. Lethal Injection Chamber From Family Witness Room, Parchman State Penitentiary, Parchman, Mississippi, 1998
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
14. Execution Chamber, Montana State Prison, Deer Lodge, Montana, 1998
Walter Hinick/AP
15. Gas Chamber, Central Prison, Raleigh, North Carolina, 1991
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
16. Lethal Injection Chamber, Nevada State Prison, Carson City, Nevada, 1991
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
17. Death Chamber, Southern Ohio Correctional Facility, Lucasville, Ohio, 1997
Gary Gardiner/AP
18. Execution Chamber, Oklahoma State Penitentiary, McAlester, Oklahoma, 1996
Jerry Laizure/AP
19. Execution Chamber, Oregon State Penitentiary, Salem, Oregon, 1997
Jack Smith/AP
20. State Correctional Institute Rockview, Bellefonte, Pennsylvania, 2008
Pennsylvania Dept. of Corrections
21. Witness Room, Broad River Correctional Facility, Columbia, South Carolina, 1991
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
22. Lethal Injection Chamber, South Dakota State Penitentiary, Sioux Falls, South Dakota, 2012
Amber Hunt/AP
23. Execution Chamber, Riverbend Maximum Security Institute, Nashville, Tennessee, 1999
Mark Humphrey/AP
24. Lethal Injection Chamber, Texas State Prison, Huntsville, Texas, 1992
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
25. Execution by Firing Squad, Utah State Prison, Draper, Utah, 2010
POOL/Reuters/Corbis
26. Electric Chair, Greensville Correctional Facility, Jarratt, Virginia, 1991
Lucinda Devlin/Galerie m Bochum
27. Execution Chamber with Witness Gallery, Washington State Penitentiary, Walla Walla, Washington, 2008
Ted S. Warren/AP/Corbis
H/t NY Mag