Limestone Penitentiary

“The exterior of the prison impresses the visitor, and at first sight suggests one of those old castles of the olden time…” (30-31).

The Book

From 1858 to 2002, men and women convicted of various crimes, in Illinois, served out their sentences at the Illinois State Penitentiary (also referred to as the Joliet Prison and later the Joliet Correctional Center). In Old Joliet Prison: When Convicts Wore Stripes, author Amy Kinzer Steidinger introduces readers to stories from the first 55 years. 

In 1857, 160 prisoners began building the walls that would enclose them; the limestone was quarried on site and helped prevent tunneling for escape attempts. The prisoners completed the work in 1869 and soon their number swelled to 1,000. Life inside the prison was marked by labor, attempted escapes, the occasional fights, discipline, and few comforts. One example is the central dining room. There wasn’t one until 1903, prior to that, prisoners had to eat in their cells. 

Old Joliet Prison is filled with the type of tidbits that are typically part of a tour. I found two particularly interesting. The same architecture firm that designed the Illinois State Capitol and Water Tower (in Chicago) designed the Illinois State Penitentiary. In the late 1800s, there was a sense of pride in Joliet, that their city included the state penitentiary: “When you are introduced to a prominent citizen and have remarked that Joliet seems a most promising town, he inquires with pride: ‘Have you visited the Penitentiary yet?’ Just like in Cincinnati, they ask ‘Have you seen the fountain?’ or in Chicago: ‘What do you think of our lake?’” (The St. Louis Globe-Democrat, 63). 

Kinzer Steidinger’s intention was to provide a more in-depth “tour” of the Illinois State Penitentiary. She relies on news stories that published accounts of what happened at the prison or who the various prisoners were. The chapters are organized by a range of years and include short vignettes. It really does feel like you are reading what a tour guide might share, just more than a tour has time to include. Black and white photos are embedded throughout and it was helpful to see what the prison looked like, prior to its current rundown state.

The Place

The Old Joliet Prison provides a unique glimpse into multiple layers of history. The top layer is what the visitor can see: a complex that has fallen into disrepair. The second and third layers, are revealed on the tour: the experiences and personalities that found their way into the complex. Throughout its long history, the prison has been featured in or referenced in many films (the most famous being The Blues Brothers) and TV shows. Tour guides will point this out, in addition to sharing stories about the guards, prisoners, and life in prison. 

Many of the buildings are original to the 1858 opening and were in use until the prison closed in 2002. The complex sat vacant for over a decade, until 2018 when the Joliet Area Historical Museum began giving tours. Three types of tours are offered, at various prices and times: self-guided, guided, and prison after dark. I would recommend the guided tour for the average visitor; it provides a good introduction to the history of the prison. Not all buildings are open to the public, but we were able to go inside the buildings that once held prisoners in solitary confinement and the hospital. Closed toed shoes are required (because of the state the complex is in) and the majority of time is spent outside, walking around the fifteen acres.