Historic Squirrel Cage Jail

Overview

Built in 1885, the Historic Squirrel Cage Jail is one of the most unusual and significant historic structures in the United States. Designated a National Historic Landmark in 2023, it is the only surviving three-story rotary jail and one of just three remaining rotary jails in the country.

Designed to provide maximum security with minimal staff oversight, the jail featured rotating pie-shaped cells housed within a revolving cell block. Using a hand crank, jailers could rotate the structure and bring individual cells to a single opening for inmate movement, meals, and supervision. The innovative design made the facility one of the most distinctive correctional institutions of its era.

The Victorian-Gothic brick jail remained in continuous use until 1969 and today operates as a museum preserving its remarkable history and architecture. In addition to its historical significance, the jail has earned a reputation as one of Iowa's most intriguing paranormal destinations, attracting visitors year-round for flashlight tours, ghost stories, and paranormal investigations, especially during the Halloween season.

Phone: (712) 323-2509
Category: Attractions