Explore the Past Like Never Before: Go Behind the Scenes at the Old Joliet Prison Administration Building

 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.  
​
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.