The Story
Illinois' oldest prison operated for 144 years, from 1858 to 2002. The first 33 convicts to arrive were forced to quarry the limestone and build their own prison cells.
In August 1979, John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd filmed the iconic opening of The Blues Brothers here - Jake's release took just two days to film at the working maximum-security facility. The prison later appeared in Prison Break and White Heat.
Tours began in 2018, and it was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2023.
Surprise Facts
→ Prisoners built their own prison from limestone quarried on site
→ The Blues Brothers filmed here while it was still a working prison
→ At capacity, it held nearly 2,000 inmates
→ Also used as the exterior for the prison in Prison Break TV series
Visit Information
✓ Open to Visit
Address: 1125 Collins St, Joliet, IL 60432
Hours: Seasonal tours available
Tip: Book tours through Joliet Area Historical Museum