FCI Sheridan opened in May 1989 with George Killinger as the warden. Oregon's first federal prison cost $52 million to build. Construction began in 1987 with a design to hold 550 inmates at the prison portion and an additional 256 camp prisoners. Portland's Hoffman Construction Company built the prison for the federal government. The prison was officially dedicated on August 24, 1989. FCI Sheridan experienced a riot in September 1993 that destroyed one building when inmates set it on fire. Another lockdown occurred in September 2003 when 40 prisoners were involved in fights using homemade weapons. In December 1994, an additional 300 beds were added to the facility as a federal detention center for housing pre-trial inmates. The separate facility from the main prison cost $10 million to build.