Joliet's Spookiest Experience Now Open In October For Scary Flashlight Tours: 'From Horror To Hope'

(The following press release is from Will Gaudet, Senior Account Executive, at Carol Fox & Associates.)

JOLIET, IL — The Joliet Area Historical Museum (JAHM) will be opening the gates of the historic Old Joliet Prison for self-guided "Flashlight Tours" under the cover of darkness, offering visitors an opportunity to experience the site's complex history in a unique way.

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The tours take place Thursday to Saturday between 6:30 p.m. and 10 p.m. through the end of October. Tickets are available at the gate, or pre-register at jolietprison.org to guarantee
your admission time and expedited entrance.

Visitors will receive branded flashlights and will be assisted in their tours by nearly thirty illuminated interpretive signage panels, which provide glimpses into the Prison's operations over its long history, through eras of both reform and retribution. JAHM's knowledgeable museum assistants will be on-site to answer questions and direct patrons through the complex.

"The Old Joliet Prison is a place that needs no exaggeration," said Greg Peerbolte, JAHM CEO. "Walking the Prison grounds at night in the footsteps of those that lived and worked
here – uncovering stories that run the gamut from horror to hope – is both extraordinary and unsettling. Anyone looking for an experience that's downright spooky this Halloween
season will not be disappointed."

For more than 165 years, the Old Joliet Prison has been recognized for its imposing Gothic Revival architecture, made infamous by its many high-profile inmates, and become a
fixture of popular culture through its references in film, literature, and music such as "The Blues Brothers" and "Prison Break." Inmates lived within the prison's imposing limestone walls for nearly 150 years until the prison was closed in 2002.

The Old Joliet Prison's standard daytime tours will be available throughout the month of October as well, taking place Monday to Wednesday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m., and Thursday to Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Proceeds from the tours will benefit the Joliet Area Historical Museum, a 501(c)3 not-for-profit organization that has operated the Joliet Prison as a historic site in cooperation with
the City of Joliet since 2018.

Know Before You Go:
Hours: Thursday – Saturday, 6:30 p.m. – 10 p.m. (last entry)
Ticket Prices: Thursdays (discounted): $19.99 for adults, $9.99 for children, $6.99 for JAHM members
Friday – Saturday: $32 for adults, $12 for children, $10 for JAHM members (Children 3 and under free)

Location: Old Joliet Prison Historic District 1125 N. Collins St., Joliet IL 60432

Please Note: The Old Joliet Prison encompasses a 16-acre footprint. The tour experience resembles an outdoor hike, weather-appropriate attire and footwear are recommended.
Parking: Free in dedicated lots on west side of Collins Street adjacent to the Prison.