This Geocache is near the Old Joliet Prison. A small space for swag inside.A unique item is fixed inside the lid that to photograph, but please leave it in the lid.
The prison was built in 1858 and remained open until 2002. Some of the first prisoners were Confederate POW's from the Civil War. It was designed by Chicago architect W.> Boyington who designed Chicago Water Tower Place, and used Limestone quarried on site.
It was soon over capacity with 1,200+ prisoners. and was to be replaced in the 20's when Stateville Prison opended, but instead recieved some upgrades and remained open.
In 1915 the Warden's wife, Odette Maizee Bordeaux Allen, who lived with her husband at the prison, was murdered in her beadroom, and her body was burned in her bed. The Warden was in Chicago and the crime was pined on one of the house boys Joe Campbell, who was sentenced to death. His sentnce was commuted to life in prison, where he died in 1950. The room where she died is said to be haunted by her spirit.
Famous prisoners include Leopold & Loeb, Richard Speck, John Wayne Gacy, James Earl Ray, and Baby Face Nelson.
The Blues Brothers movie in 1980 made the prison famous and it was also used for Fox River Penitentiary in the Fox show Prison Break in 2005.
Falling into disrepair, the prison was finally taken over by the Joiliet Historical meseum in 2017 and they have been slowly restoring the facility while offering tours and hosting events.