The first crime-and-punishment museum was an actual penitentiary, hosting tours that gave guests an up-close look at a prisoner’s life, which often included hard labor, matching jumpsuits, and horrific tour-giving duties. Explore justice in a friendlier environ with today’s Groupon to the National Museum of Crime and Punishment. Choose from the following options:

• For $9, you get one ticket for regular admission (a $19.95 value).
• For $22, you get one ticket for an after-hours tour of the museum on Friday, February 10 (a $44 value). Choose from the following tour times:
• 7 p.m.
• 7:30 p.m.
• 8 p.m.
• 8:30 p.m.
• 9 p.m.
• 9:30 p.m.
  
  

The National Museum of Crime and Punishment shines a light on the dark underbelly of society with more than 100 interactive exhibits spread across three stories and 25,000 square feet of gallery space. After resting their weary bones in an unplugged electric chair, fans of CSI can live out television fantasies at the Crime Scene Investigation exhibit, where they can learn what it takes to be a forensic scientist and watch them in action before trying to determine whether or not fellow museum-goers exhibit the traits of serial killers. The exhibit also serves as a crash course in fingerprinting, DNA testing, fraudulent-check investigation, and dental-impression and ballistics analysis. Running through May 7, the U.S. Marshals exhibit delves into the history of America’s primary fugitive-hunting organization. The museum devotes an entire level to the year-round filming of America’s Most Wanted, providing an adjoining exhibit where fans of the show can step into a green screen for a criminal profile or imaginary Caribbean vacation.

Visitors can also peep into the museum’s many permanent exhibits. Step into a contraband time machine and meet our country’s felonious forefathers in the A Notorious History of American Crime before exploring one of the most heinous masterminds of modern times in the recently added Ted Kaczynski: The Unabomber exhibit. During after-hours tours, the museum keeps its doors and cells open into the evening for special excursions that feature all stages of life behind bars. Photo ops abound at this exclusive event, during which amateur art appraisers can try their eyes at a blood-spatter analysis, receive a fake prison tattoo, witness Secret Service demonstrations, and learn how to tell when somebody is lying to you. Though portions of the museum touch on grown-up topics, children of all ages are welcome when accompanied by adults, and a special list of kid stops points out especially tot-friendly exhibits.

Our customers loved this deal last year, earning the National Museum of Crime and Punishment a spot on Groupon’s Best of 2011 list.