Historic Squirrel Cage Jail

The Historic Squirrel Cage Jail is a Victorian-Gothic brick building in downtown Council Bluffs, about a 10-minute drive from downtown Omaha. Built in 1885, it housed prisoners continuously until 1969 and is now a museum run by the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County. Its unusual design makes it one of the area's most memorable stops.

The jail's cells are pie-shaped and revolve around a central core, so a jailer could turn a hand crank to bring each cell to a single opening. The design was patented in 1881 by William Brown and Benjamin Haugh. It is the only three-story revolving jail ever built, and of the 18 revolving jails constructed, three survive, all as museums.

Visitors tour on their own with a pamphlet, reading the information posted on the walls. The cell area remains much as it was when the county closed the jail in 1969, with prisoners' carved names and dates still visible. Expect stairs; the museum has no elevator. During October, Friday and Saturday evening tours explore the building's darker history.

History buffs, curious families with older kids, and fans of the unusual will enjoy it. A visit takes about an hour, so it combines easily with the Union Pacific Railroad Museum a few steps away. Check hours before you go, as the museum is open only part of the week.

Highlights

• Only three-story revolving jail ever built
• Cells turned by hand crank
• Carved inmate names still visible
• 1885 Victorian-Gothic building
• October after-hours tours

Tips for your visit

• Open Thursday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm and Sunday 1 to 4 pm; no reservations needed.
• Expect several flights of stairs and no elevator.
• October Friday and Saturday after-hours tours cost $15, paid at the door.
• The sign is near the museum, not the road, so look for 226 Pearl St.