The Pottawattamie Jailhouse, or “Squirrel Cage Jail,” is one of only three remaining rotary jails. Built in 1885, it featured an innovative design aimed at limiting inmate contact with jailers.

Opened in 1896, Brushy Mountain State Penitentiary in Petros, Tennessee, was built following the violent Coal Creek War, a labor conflict that led the state to use prisoners in coal

The historic Old St Johns County Jail was constructed in 1891 by Henry Flagler. He had the  intention of attracting visitors while concealing its intentions behind a façade of hospitality.

After a decade of construction, the Ohio State Reformatory opened its doors to inmates in 1896. Designed by Cleveland architect Levi Scofield, this imposing limestone structure was built with a

The first permanent structure of its kind in Crown Point was the Lake County Jail, which was built in 1882. Initially, the jail consisted of ten cells – six for

Originally called Cherry Hill State Prison, Eastern State Penitentiary was built on ten acres of farmland just outside of Philadelphia. Construction kicked off in 1822, and by 1829, this groundbreaking

Originally intended to be a fortress for naval defense, Alcatraz transformed into a living space for military wrongdoers in 1861, accommodating a varied group of inmates during its initial years.