Old Joliet Prison Tours Are Back, New Format Revealed

JOLIET, IL — If you thought the new coronavirus health crisis would force the Joliet Area Historical Museum to cancel its highly anticipated tourism season at the world-famous Old Joliet Prison, think again. On Tuesday, museum director Greg Peerbolte notified Joliet Patch that self-guided prison tours will begin at 9 a.m. June 1.

For the first time since the long-abandoned prison grounds were reopened in 2018, the tours will take place seven days a week. Peerbolte said the tours will be done in accordance with Gov. J.B. Pritzker's Restore Illinois program.

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With stay-at-home orders giving Americans a new perspective on confinement, "it is an opportune time to consider the experience of prisoners confined at the Old Joliet Prison since 1858," Peerbolte stated in his news release.

Visitors will be allowed inside the limestone walls to explore the Old Joliet Prison's 16-acre grounds, and "while tours will be limited to outdoor areas only, there will be plenty to see," he said.

Through a grant funded from the Illinois Office of Tourism, the Joliet museum will debut nearly two dozen interpretive signs with several historical photos of the prison, Peerbolte said.

(Article continues below Joliet Patch photo.)

Additionally, the museum is offering virtual 3D tours of selected building interiors courtesy of Dietrich Zeigler/Elements of Media. Guests to the Old Joliet Prison will be able to use QR codes placed throughout the prison yard's tour route by using their smartphones.

Peerbolte said the prison tours will initially be limited to nine guests per group and that all staff and guests will be expected to follow social distancing guidelines.

Admission for the Old Joliet Prison will be $20 per adult. There are discounts and price reductions for museum members as well as children and Joliet residents. All proceeds from the prison tours go toward the Joliet Area Historical Museum's ongoing building restoration efforts at the Old Joliet Prison grounds.

"The reality of the financial impact of COVID-19 is that many cultural arts institutions and nonprofits like our museum have been doubly impacted," Peerbolte said. "We've faced not only the loss of revenue from closing our doors, but cuts in operational support from government entities who struggle with the financial impact of the pandemic alongside us.

"As an organization, we have challenged ourselves to rethink activities to generate vital revenue and adhere to public health guidelines which keep our guests safe, while at the same time maintaining our intellectual credibility and providing a memorable experience."

Tickets: To assist with public health mandates, all tickets are available only by reservation with prepayment, at the museum's website here.

Want to go to the Old Joliet Prison?

Old Joliet Prison, 1125 N. Collins St., tours enter at Western Gate via Hills Avenue, north side of the prison.

Prison, Self-Guided Tours: $20 per adult; museum members and Joliet residents, $15 per adult, $10 per child, ages 3-12, children under 3 free, reservation required. Strict limit of 10 individuals per appointment window (each quarter hour), tours begins at 9 a.m. and end at 5 p.m. Tour duration will be limited to approximately 90 minutes to assist with public health guidelines.

Guided History Tours (led by certified museum guide): $30 per person (no discounts) Monday,
Thursday, Saturday, Sunday, 11 a.m. and 1 p.m. Groups limited to nine participants.

Guard Tours (led by former prison employees): $40 per person (no discounts), alternating Saturdays and Sundays, 9 a.m. Groups limited to eight.

Haunted History Tours (True stories of some of the prison’s most notorious residents): $35 (no
discounts), every Friday night, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Groups limited to eight.

Photography Tours (Amateur or professional photographers, bring tripods and wander the grounds): $50 per person, alternating Sundays, three-hour time window, no models.

Getting In: All guests will be required to sign an online waiver before entering the prison grounds. Guests will enter the site via contactless check-in at the prison’s West Gate.

Related Joliet Patch Coverage:

Illinois Coronavirus Update May 19: 4,379 Deaths
Joliet Dine-In Restaurants May Reopen Under City's Plan
Joliet's 89 Deaths Mostly At Nursing Homes: Mayor