Joliet, IL — The dust has settled and the gates are opening to the Administration Building of the iconic Old Joliet Prison for a limited-time behind-the-scenes tour. Join us for a rare look inside the very nerve center of one of the most legendary correctional facilities in the United States.
 The Administration Building served as the operational heart of the prison—housing wardens, clerks, and officials who oversaw daily life behind the limestone walls. Now, visitors will have the unique opportunity to walk the same halls where major decisions were made and history was written.
 This exclusive guided hard hat tour offers a raw and unfiltered look at areas previously closed to the public due to a roof collapse in 2020. Expect intimidating, castellated gothic architecture, original fixtures, and a deep dive into the stories that shaped over a century of incarceration.  Learn details on the massive preservation work performed to save this landmark.

If you go:
📍 Location: Old Joliet Prison – 1125 Collins St, Joliet, IL
🗓️ Dates: 2nd and 4th Saturday June-November
⏰ Times: 9:00 AM
🎟️ Tickets: $52 per person (ages 16+ only), museum members $37
Hard hats and closed-toe shoes required. Protective gear provided on-site.  Price includes a day pass for self guided tours of the rest of the 16 acre historic site.  
 
Space is limited and tours are expected to sell out quickly. Tickets are available now at www.jolietprison.org/tours.
 Don’t miss this rare opportunity to go beyond the bars. Step inside. Step back in time.
 About the Old Joliet Prison
The Old Joliet Prison operated from 1858 to 2002 and is known both for its architectural significance and its appearances in pop culture, including The Blues Brothers and Prison Break. Today, it stands as a powerful monument to Illinois’ correctional history and is preserved through the efforts of the Joliet Area Historical Museum and dedicated community partners.  
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As of summer 2025 guests can explore more buildings than ever before on our self guided tour.  Visitors can access the firehouse, library, commissary,  captains court, prison industries, mattress factory, inmate dining room, cafeteria, showers, north segregation,  solitary confinement, east and west cell houses.  

Joliet, Illinois is a city where the past is carved in stone and the future is grounded in its heritage. Throughout the 19th Century, “Joliet Limestone” characterized grand public buildings and sacred spaces not only in Joliet, but throughout the State of Illinois and the greater Midwest.
Backed by popular demand, the Joliet Area Historical Museum (JAHM) in partnership with the City of Joliet Historic Preservation Commission is once again celebrating historic preservation month by offering a special thematic motorcoach tour on Saturday, May 31 entitled “Stone & Steeples” that showcases four historic Joliet limestone buildings. These structures not only highlight Joliet’s legacy of craftsmanship, community, and enduring design, but further define the City’s heritage as characterized by strong traditions of faith and worship.

• All Saints Greek Orthodox Church
• Saint Peter’s Lutheran Church
• University of St. Francis “Motherhouse”
• Bishop Hill Winery (Frederick Sehring Mansion)

Knowledgeable staff and docents will be on hand to share detailed histories of each location. Guests over 21 are encouraged to enjoy the award-winning wines served at Bishop Hill Winery, the last stop of the tour. In addition to their links to faith communities and congregations, the four structures selected are all part of the St. John’s neighborhood, among Joliet’s oldest settled areas. The tour builds on the grant-funded research completed during the St. John’s Historic Resource Survey project, overseen by the City of Joliet Historic Preservation Commission.
JAHM CEO Greg Peerbolte recalled the overwhelming response that the first limestone tour received in 2017. “We anticipated an intimate gathering of a couple dozen fellow limestone diehards and ended up filling two school buses with over 100 people,” said Peerbolte. “It just goes to show that even though no buildings have been constructed from Joliet Limestone in nearly a century, it remains an important feature of Joliet and a meaningful way to connect with our City’s history.”
If you go:

• Date: Saturday, May 31, 9 AM – 1 PM

Museum opens at 8:30 AM
Motorcoach will arrive/depart from JAHM
(Ticket Price includes JAHM admission for duration of the day)

• Cost: $30 General Public/$20 JAHM Members [Limited to 48 spaces]
• Parking: Joliet Area Historical Museum Surface Lot, Benton & Ottawa Sts.

Motorcoach will arrive/depart from JAHM
(Ticket Price includes JAHM admission for duration of the day)

• Tickets: Purchase online at jolietmuseum.org