Old Jail Museum, Rotary Jail

The Old Jail Museum in Crawfordsville, IN is to my knowledge the ONLY working Rotary Jail in existence. The design was brilliant and unique but unsafe, causing great injury and posing a deadly fire-hazard. The jail was abandoned then turned into a museum. The nice tour-guide turned the cell block for us several times (I didn't get his name, but thank you very much) while we filmed from above and below the turntable. Visiting the jail is truly a unique experience.

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• Crawfordsville
• Indiana
• Old
• Jail
• Museum
• Rotary
• Cellblock
• Turntable
• Historical
• Landmark
• Travel
• unique

[therealweaselfish]

What's really interesting is that this jail was in use until 1967. There's even graffiti still on the cell walls of a VW bus and peace signs.

[BellenarcissA]

Yes, I loved seeing the graffiti on the walls, I'm so glad they preserved some of it. One thing that does amaze me, we used THIS jail from the Victorian era up to 1967, and the 1967 Jail didn't even make it to 2008, they had to build a new one! They just don't make 'em like they used ta.

[ivegotalongdong]

council bluffs, Iowa has a 3-story one that was in use until 1969

[red1862]

I spent the night before graduation in that jail , class of 1971. The locks on the up stair cell would not even lock. It was kinda cool i guess. Why back 1800 s they hung a man in the front yard. Sold tickets!

[FuquarProductions]

The jail rotated because there is only one door to enter the cells. In the mid 60's... I think, they added cell doors and stopped using the rotating part because of possible risk of fire with no fast escape.

[majorleager8]

itd be kinda scary to be in one of the ones at the back cuase its be real dark lol

[gunsnroseslover96]

i been there

[OhItsJustMe2]

why does it rotate?

[johns319]

They used the jail portion of the structure until 1972, and the sheriff lived on the premises until 1973.

[johns319]

Hey, looks great!