The History
Old Joliet Prison — officially the Illinois State Penitentiary at Joliet — opened in 1858, built by convict labor from locally quarried Joliet limestone. The Gothic Revival architecture was deliberately imposing. The castle-like walls and towers were designed to intimidate, sending a clear message to anyone who saw them from the outside.
The prison was originally intended to reform inmates through labor. They quarried stone, made furniture, and worked in a broom factory. But as with most 19th-century prisons, it became overcrowded and brutal. Riots, escapes, and executions punctuated its 144-year history. At its peak, the prison held over 1,300 inmates in conditions far worse than anyone had planned for.
The prison finally closed in 2002, replaced by the newer Stateville Correctional Center nearby. But the gothic fortress remained standing — too imposing to demolish, too haunted to forget.
Hollywood Connection
Joliet Prison became one of the most filmed prisons in America. The 1980 film The Blues Brothers opens with Jake Blues (John Belushi) being released from Joliet in an iconic scene that cemented the prison in pop culture history. "I'm on a mission from God" became one of cinema's most quoted lines — and it started right here.
The TV series Prison Break (2005-2017) used the prison as the fictional "Fox River State Penitentiary," where Michael Scofield engineers his brother's elaborate escape from death row. The show's creators chose Joliet specifically for its imposing gothic architecture. Other productions filmed here include Let's Go to Prison, various crime documentaries, and music videos.
The Hauntings
After 144 years of housing Illinois' most dangerous criminals, Old Joliet Prison has accumulated more than just history. Guards, tour guides, and visitors report persistent paranormal activity throughout the complex:
The East Cellhouse
Heavy cell doors slam shut on their own. Footsteps echo through empty corridors. The overwhelming feeling of being watched persists throughout.
Solitary Confinement
Screaming and banging from empty isolation cells. Cold spots so intense they cause breath to fog even in summer. Shadow figures pace the narrow cells.
The Guard Tower
Guards reported seeing phantom inmates in the yard decades after the prison closed. Lights appear in towers when the building has no electricity.
Death Row
The execution chamber area produces the most intense paranormal activity. EVP recordings capture desperate voices. An oppressive energy presses down on visitors.
In Pop Culture
The Blues Brothers (1980)
"I'm on a mission from God." Jake Blues walks out of Joliet Prison in the film's iconic opening, launching one of the greatest comedies ever made.
Prison Break (2005-2017)
The elaborate escape from "Fox River" was filmed in the actual cellblocks. Michael Scofield's tattoo blueprint was mapped to the real prison layout.
Let's Go to Prison (2006)
Comedy film used the prison for exterior and interior shots, taking advantage of the gothic architecture for both dramatic and comedic effect.
What's There Now
Visit Old Joliet Prison
Address: 1125 Collins Street, Joliet, IL
Status: Open for guided tours through the Joliet Area Historical Museum
Location: About 45 miles southwest of Chicago, easily accessible from I-80
Tours: Historical tours cover the prison's 144-year history, architecture, and notable inmates. Haunted history tours available on select evenings.
Tip: The prison is being gradually restored as a heritage tourism site. Photography is permitted on tours — the gothic limestone cellblocks are incredibly photogenic.
Explore on Interactive Map →