Squirrel Cage Jail Traditional Geocache
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Built on the former site of a morgue for the Episcopalian Church, the Old Pottawattamie County Jail was constructed in 1885 and closed its doors as a prison in 1969. It was purchased by the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County in 1979 and became what is now a museum. The jail is known as the 'Squirrel Cage Jail' because of its unique three-story rotating jail cells. The jail is part of the National Register of Historic Places, and is one of only three remaining Lazy Susan jails. Prisoners were housed in pie-shaped cells, which were accessed by turning a hand crank until the cells lined up with a single door on each floor. Unfortunately, the jail does not rotate any more, and some of the pie-shaped cells have not seen the light of day for almost forty years.
The building is believed to be haunted by the ghost of one of the former jailers that worked and lived at the jail. While employed at the Squirrel Cage Jail, the jailers and their families lived in an apartment located on the fourth floor of the jail.
Four deaths are known to have occurred at the jail:
1) One prisoner died of a heart attack.
2) One prisoner was found hanged in his cell.
3) One prisoner tried to climb up the jail cage to try and write his name on the ceiling. He fell from the third level and died.
4) One was a prison guard.
If you want to visit the inside here is the information.
2008 HOURS OF OPERATION
April 2 through October 31
Wednesday through Saturday: 10 am to 4 pm
Sunday: 1 pm to 4 pm
Closed Mondays, Tuesdays, and Holidays
Other times by appointment - please phone, write, or e-mail.
ADMISSION
Adults: $7.00
Seniors:(60 and Over) $6.00
AAA Members $6.00
Age 6 - 12: $5.00
Age 5 & under and HSPC Members: FREE
Group rates available
Additional Hints
(Decrypt)
Fvg Qbja naq Erynk njuvyr.