A place like no other near Joliet in Illinois
The Old Joliet Prison is a historic correctional facility located in Joliet, Illinois, that operated for 144 years from 1858 until its closure in 2002. The prison was constructed using locally quarried limestone by inmate laborers, who built the massive walls and cell blocks that still stand today. Known as the Joliet Correctional Center in its later years, the facility gained worldwide fame as a filming location for the 1980 film The Blues Brothers and the opening scenes of the television series Prison Break. The castle-like administration building with its distinctive towers is one of the most recognizable prison facades in American popular culture.
History and Culture
The prison was authorized in 1857 by the Illinois State Legislature to replace the overcrowded Alton penitentiary. Construction began in 1858, and the first inmates arrived in 1860, even before the facility was fully completed. The prisoners themselves quarried the limestone from onsite deposits, cut the stones, and laid the walls of what would become their own confinement. By the early 20th century, the prison held notorious criminals including Nathan Leopold and Richard Loeb, the wealthy University of Chicago students convicted of the thrill killing of Bobby Franks in 1924, a case that became one of the most sensational murder trials in American history.
The prison gained unprecedented fame in 1980 when director John Landis chose it as the setting for Jake Blues’ release in The Blues Brothers. The iconic scene featured John Belushi’s character walking out of the imposing front gates, a moment that cemented the facility’s place in film history. In 2005, the Fox television series Prison Break used the prison extensively for its first season, filming interior and exterior shots that showcased the decaying cell blocks and towering walls.
Life inside the prison was notoriously harsh. Overcrowding plagued the facility throughout its history, with cells designed for a single inmate often housing three or four men. The prison saw numerous riots, escape attempts, and a major uprising in 1975 that resulted in significant damage and reforms. The facility finally closed in 2002 due to its deteriorating condition and the opening of the newer Stateville Correctional Center nearby.
What to Do
The Joliet Area Historical Museum operates guided tours of the Old Joliet Prison, offering visitors a rare look inside the abandoned facility. Public tours run seasonally from April through October, and advance reservations are strongly recommended due to high demand. The standard History Tour takes approximately 90 minutes and covers the administration building, the east and west cell blocks, the yard, and the chapel. Knowledgeable guides share stories of prison life, infamous inmates, and the facility’s evolution through nearly a century and a half of operation.
For those seeking a different experience, the museum offers Ghost Tours during evening hours that explore the prison’s darker legends and reported paranormal activity. Photographers will appreciate the Photography Tours, which provide extended access for capturing the dramatic architecture, peeling paint, and atmospheric decay that make the prison a popular destination for urban exploration photography. The Prison Break Tour highlights locations used in the television series, allowing fans to walk through the same corridors and cells featured in the show.
Annual events include the Haunted Prison, a Halloween attraction that transforms the facility into an elaborate haunted house during October. The event draws thousands of visitors each year, with proceeds supporting the preservation and restoration efforts managed by the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Private events and film productions occasionally book the facility, continuing its legacy as a cinematic backdrop.
What to See
The East Cell Block is the most striking architectural feature of the prison, with three tiers of iron-barred cells stretching upward in a cavernous stone hall. Sunlight filters through narrow arched windows, creating dramatic shadows across the rusted catwalks and cell doors. The Administration Building features a grand limestone facade with crenellated towers that give the prison its distinctive castle-like silhouette. Inside the building, visitors can see original offices, processing areas, and the warden’s quarters preserved much as they were in the mid-20th century.
The prison yard offers views of the massive perimeter walls built with Joliet limestone, some sections reaching 25 feet in height. The yard once served as the exercise area for over a thousand inmates at a time and still contains remnants of the recreational facilities. The solitary confinement unit provides a sobering look at the prison’s disciplinary practices, with small, dark cells where inmates were held in isolation for extended periods.
Graffiti and murals left by inmates cover many of the walls, creating an informal visual record of those who lived within. The prison chapel features wooden pews and a simple altar, a space that served multiple denominations during the facility’s operation. The front gate area, immortalized in The Blues Brothers, remains the most photographed spot on the tour route, with the original iron gates still in place.
When to Visit
The summer months from June through August offer the most regular tour schedule and the longest daylight hours for photography tours. Afternoon tours can be quite warm inside the stone cell blocks, so morning reservations are recommended during peak summer heat. October brings the Haunted Prison attraction, making it the busiest month of the year and a must for Halloween enthusiasts. Spring and fall provide milder temperatures and smaller tour groups, allowing for a more intimate experience of the facility. The prison tours are not available during winter months from November through March, when the unheated buildings are closed to the public.