Alcatraz
Originally constructed as a military fort in 1850, the island was eventually turned into a prison.
Directory results
13 Haunted locations in Prisons or Jails
According to paranormal investigators and ghost hunters, the fact that old jails have a history of violence, suffering, and often cruel conditions might contribute to the assumption that the spirits of those who died or suffered within their walls continue to exist. This belief accounts for the frequent association of old prisons with hauntings. In addition, the majority of the older prisons were constructed using massive blocks of sandstone, which is also thought to have the capacity to store the energy of various events and to serve as the foundation for residual hauntings. These stones, steeped in history and sorrow, may resonate with the emotions of those who once inhabited the space, further amplifying the eerie atmosphere. Consequently, many visitors report feeling an inexplicable chill or sensing the presence of unseen entities as they explore the dimly lit corridors and crumbling cells.
Allegan County Historical Society
One of the most significant locations associated with the society is the Old Jail Museum in Allegan. Built in 1906, the structure originally served as both a residence for the county sheriff and a functioning jail, reflecting a common design of the era.
Burlington County Prison Museum
The Burlington County Prison Museum, a National Historic Landmark located in Mount Holly, New Jersey, operated as a prison from 1811 to 1965, making it the longest-used prison in the nation at the time of its closure.
Eastern State Penitentiary
The Eastern State Penitentiary, also known as ESP, is a former American prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Idaho State Penitentiary
This is the Idaho's old state prison. It opened in 1870 and was closed on December 3, 1973.
Jailhouse Inn Newport
The Jailhouse Inn traces its origins back to the colonial era when Newport was one of the most active ports in early America. Some believe that some spirits from the old jail still linger.
Ohio State Reformatory
The cornerstone laid on November 4, 1886 evolved into this magnificent Chateauesque structure. Cleveland architect Levi T. Scofield designed the Ohio State Reformatory using a combination of three architectural styles; Victorian Gothic, Richardsonian Roma
Old Blackford County Jail
The jail was built from 1878 to 1879 and took two full years to complete. The jail has one of the few remaining turnstile left in the nation.
Old Licking County Jail
Completed in 1889, the jail was the first to house the Sheriff of the County. Featuring 3 floors of cells for men and 1 floor for women, the jail was a marvel of architecture built out of Millsburg Stone, it was built to last for generations to come.
Saint Augustine Jail
The Old Jail Museum, formerly the original Saint John County Jail; (1891-1953), can be found near the corner of San Marco Avenue (A1A) and Missouri Avenue, between Dufferin Street and Mantanzas Avenue; not far from the Florida Heritage Museum.
The Columbia City Haunted Jail
The Whitley County Jail, now known as the Haunted Jail, has a history dating back to 1875, with the structure designed with the sheriff's residence and office in the brick front and jail cells in the stone section to the rear.
The Public Gaol
Thieves, enslaved runaways, debtors, and political prisoners once paced the cells of the Public Gaol as they waited to be tried—or hanged.
West Virginia Penitentiary - Moundsville
The prison at Joliet provided the prototype for the West Virginia Penitentiary. It was an imposing stone structure fashioned in the castellated Gothic architectural style (adorned with turrets and battlements, like a castle).