This Exploration of the Old Joliet Prison Will Send Chill Down Your Spine
I've said it before and I'll say it again, history will always be one of my favorite subjects!
When it comes to exploring local buildings that have a lot of history, I turn into a total nerd. And that's exactly what happened when I learned about the Old Joliet Prison in Joliet, Illinois.
I ever would have thought SO much history and pop culture could be connected to one place. Least of all a prison that opened in 1858.
The History of the Old Joliet Prison: Joliet, Illinois
The facility officially opened in May of 1858 with a whopping total of 53 prisoners. It only took 20 years for the number of inmates to rise to nearly 2,000.
You can probably assume that the high demand led to the prison becoming very run down and unsanitary.
KEEP SCROLLING TO SEE PICTURES INSIDE OF THE PRISON
Despite efforts to close the prison, it continued to house offenders until 2002 when it was closed down by Governor George Ryan.
SEE MORE: Check Out The Massive Amount of Equipment Left At This Abandoned Illinois Power Plant
After that, it sat abandoned for quite a while. During that time, so much vandalism happened that Joliet Mayor Bob O'Dekirk signed a petition for the city to take control of the property. Because of that, it is now a museum you can tour!
The Old Joliet Prison: A Popular Filming Location
If you're a movie and TV show lover like me, chances are you might've seen this place. This spot has become a popular place for filming!
You may recognize it from shows like Prison Break and Empire, but it's also been a spot where scenes from Blues Brothers, Public Enemies, Natural Born Killers and much more were filmed.
Now, let's get to the fun part and look through pictures of a tour through the old prison.
Explore The Old Joliet Prison: Joliet, IL
Gallery Credit: Olivia Williams
If you want a deeper dive into the prison, you can take a look at the video below!
Decaying Midwest Abandoned Police Department Turned Haunted House in Illinois
Gallery Credit: Olivia Williams