The Old Joliet Prison on Collins Street held inmates for nearly 150 years. Today it is a historic site open for tours. This page covers who runs the tours, what they cost, how to book, and what to expect, based on the site's official website as of November 1, 2026.
Seasonal note: The site closes for the winter in November and reopens by April, weather permitting. If you're reading this in late fall or winter, check the website for the reopening date before planning a visit.
Who runs the tours
According to the Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, the tour program is managed mainly by the Joliet Area Historical Museum, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, in partnership with the City of Joliet. Proceeds support the museum's mission and work to secure and stabilize the site.
Tours and prices
From the site's Tours page:
| Tour | What it is | General public | Children 3-12 | Museum members |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Self-guided | Walk the grounds at your own pace with informational signs | $22 | $11 | Free |
| Guided General History Tour | 90-minute walking tour led by museum docents and guides, covering 1858 to 2002 | $35 | – | $30 |
| Flashlight Tour | Self-guided after dark, with signs and lighting | $32 | $12 | $10 |
Children under 3 are free on self-guided tours. The site lists discount pricing on Thursday evenings for flashlight tours. Its FAQ also lists guided specialty tours at $40 to $75.
On self-guided visits, the Tours page lists the North Segregation Building, the cafeteria (inmate dining room), library, commissary, firehouse and West cell houses as open to walk through. The Know Before You Go page cautions that because of ongoing preservation work, the buildings open to guests can change during the season, and visitors receive a map at check-in showing what's accessible that day.
Group tours
Private group tours are offered from May through October for organizations and schools. The FAQ says private group tours are for groups of 30 or more, booked through the site's tour coordinator; smaller groups are encouraged to buy tickets online in advance.
Hours
The home page lists these hours during the tour season:
- Thursday through Sunday: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
- Monday through Wednesday: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
- October evenings (flashlight tours): Thursday through Saturday, 6:30 to 10 p.m.
The Tours page lists closures on Easter, Memorial Day, the Fourth of July and Labor Day.
Booking
The site strongly encourages reservations for all visitors. Booking online in advance guarantees entry at a set time, and guests with reservations can skip the gift shop line and go straight to the East Gate for check-in. Book through the Old Joliet Prison website. The site's phone number is (312) 978-1282.
Before you go
From the site's FAQ:
- Tours are mostly outdoors, rain or shine. Dress for the weather and wear comfortable closed-toe shoes. Self-guided and guided tours each take about 90 minutes.
- No large bags or backpacks inside the prison. Leave items in your vehicle.
- Accessibility: most of the tour is accessible, but because of the site's age and condition, some areas may not fully meet ADA standards. The site has benches throughout.
- Photos and video are allowed for personal use. Commercial or influencer filming requires following the site's film policy.
- Pets: only service animals are allowed inside the walls.
- Ages: the site says its Prison After Dark tours are not for small children.
A short history
The site's history page says the prison replaced Illinois' first state penitentiary at Alton. On May 22, 1858, 53 prisoners arrived to begin building the larger prison around a small structure that still stands, using limestone quarried a few hundred feet away. By 1878 the prison held nearly 2,000 inmates, well over capacity. Stateville Penitentiary was built a few miles north in 1926, in what is now Crest Hill, but the Joliet prison continued to house inmates until 2002, when it was closed as a budget measure.
The vacant site suffered vandalism and arson. In December 2017 the City of Joliet took control of the property and turned to the Joliet Area Historical Museum to lead preservation. The museum and community partners formed the Old Joliet Prison Preservation Coalition, which has worked to stabilize the buildings and open the site to the public.
Getting there
The prison is at 1125 Collins St., Joliet, IL 60432. The Joliet Area Historical Museum, which runs the tours, is downtown at 204 N. Ottawa St. For more Joliet history stops, see our Route 66 guide.
Sources
- Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, home page (hours, address, phone) · as of 2026-11-01
- Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, Tours · as of 2026-11-01
- Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, Know Before You Go · as of 2026-11-01
- Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, History · as of 2026-11-01
- Old Joliet Prison Historic Site, About Us · as of 2026-11-01
- OpenStreetMap contributors, address location for 1125 Collins Street (via Nominatim) · as of 2026-11-01