Old Joliet Prison, Illinois, United States
4.0 (124 reviews) Saturday: 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM Spent 1-2 hours Ranking #5 in Joliet Points of Interest & Landmarks
Worth the visit!
Opened in 1858, just six years after the incorporation of the City of Joliet, the Illinois State Penitentiary, Joliet, now known simply as the “Old Joliet Prison,” has – for better or worse been – synonymous with the City of Joliet for nearly its entire history. The Prison is probably best known today for its most popular, albeit fictional inmate – “Joliet Jake” Blues from the 1980 film “The Blues Brothers.” Since then, the Prison has made a number of appearances in films in television, including as the character of “Fox River State Penitentiary” in the critically acclaimed Fox series “Prison Break,” and in smaller scenes in Derailed, Let’s Go to Prison, and recently, Empire.
Address
1125 Collins St, Joliet, IL 60432-1266
Mobile
Website
http://www.jolietprison.org/
Working hours
Monday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Tuesday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Wednesday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Thursday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Friday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Saturday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Sunday : 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Current local date and time now
Saturday, May 11, 2024, 22:30
User Ratings
4.0 based on (124 reviews)
Reviews
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4Bryan W 5:00 PM Jul 24, 2022
Interesting but seeing some major hurdles with the facility crumbling
This was interesting. A lot of the prison is really crumbling which as a history lover I hate to see. There were volunteers trying to keep it going but it’s going to need a lot of funding. Several fires have destroyed parts of it too. There are only a couple of places where you can go safely inside. The history of the penal system in America is interestingly seen through this prisons history. I hope someone will come along and help fund its restoration. It’s getting close to being too far gone to save. It also rained a lot the day we went and made it even harder to get inside. If you’re a Blues brothers fan you must stop here as it’s the place where the movie starts.
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3MNice 5:00 PM Apr 9, 2022
Friendly staff and really interesting although we couldn’t get in at 4:00 on a Saturday.
We came through on a cool spring day and the prison is actually located in a small “yesterday’s news” community. A really interesting town with lots of industrial buildings abandoned in the distance. Chicago and it’s surrounding communities of course were the place that rail lines came together and Joliet is no different. You will cross a large bridge going from the Old Joliet Prison into Joliet which goes over these historic and well worn tracks. The town of Joliet itself has a distinct Hispanic flavor. The Prison itself does not cover a lot of real estate, but it’s height and sandstone blocks present a foreboding aura which can only be experienced in person. We were unable to actually take a tour of the hotel in the late afternoon on a Saturday, but honestly, just seeing was interesting enough. The State of Illinois has done a poor job of maintaining it although that is part of the allure. The entrance/gift shop is interesting and the staff was very pleasant and informative. Historic Route 66 is close by in Joliet and there are several of the original historic buildings still there and operational. A great learning place for kids and an interesting place for adults. We loved it, but didn’t rate it as high as we would have liked due to the lack of upkeep and absence of a true interpretive center to explain the lives of thousands of prisoners and guards who came through here.
