Perth, Australia (CNN) — It all began with a letter sent from inside an Australian “tomb,” a document so convincing that it prompted a US gang to sail some 20,000 kilometers (12,427 miles) to execute what could arguably be considered one of the most outrageous prison escapes in Australian history.
The year was 1876. Using a series of codes and disguises, the bold group snuck into Western Australia to free six Irish political prisoners.
The museum, which reopened in November 2020, was closed for four years for redevelopment. Featuring eight new galleries, it’s located on the same site it has occupied since 1891, when it opened as a geological museum in the Old Perth Gaol.
Among the many displays on offer is a modern look at the Catalpa rescue — named for the ship they journeyed to freedom on.
Featuring images of the prison they escaped from and the ship,…