The Story
The Macoupin County Jail, built in 1869, was designed to be escape-proof with two-foot-thick stone walls. Local legend claims a cannonball from an 1850s conflict between railroad factions remains embedded in the walls, giving it the nickname 'Cannonball Jail.'
The jail housed prisoners until 1988 and is now preserved as a historic landmark near Route 66.
Surprise Facts
→ Walls are two feet thick solid stone
→ A cannonball may still be embedded in the structure
→ Active jail until 1988
Visit Information
✓ Open to Visit
Address: 113 E Main St, Carlinville, IL 62626
Hours: Exterior viewing; tours by appointment
Tip: Walk around to find the embedded cannonball