Old Joliet Prison: A Historic Site For Movie Lovers

Take a tour of this famous movie site in Illinois, but just know it's not your typical Hollywood film location because there's a taste of reality with your visit.

Tours Available In Illinois For One Of The Most Famous Prisons In The U.S.

I remember the first time my dad sat down and shared the movie "Blues Brothers" with me. That is a father-son bonding session I'll never forget. We watched that flick over and over again hundreds of times. We had the film on so many times, my mom "accidentally" recorded over it a couple of times. Many of the scenes were filmed in and around Chicago. In fact, it made an old prison famous.

According to Old Joliet Prison...

A 90-minute walking tour of the Old Joliet Prison led by docents and trained tour guides from the Joliet Area Historical Museum.

This tour covers the prison’s history from its opening in 1858 through its closure in 2002, making it a great introduction to the site and its stories.

The scene in the "Blues Brothers" where Joliet Jake Blues is released from jail is at the Old Joliet Prison. After that, it became a famous Hollywood filming site. Several movies and TV shows have filmed scenes there, including "Prison Break," "Ghost Adventures," "Empire," Public Enemies," "Let's Go To Prison," "White Heat," "Derailed," and more.

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Nowadays, Old Joliet Prison is a big tourist attraction in Illinois. They host different events throughout the year, including a minor league baseball game and Blues Brothers Fest. The historic location now offers tours. There are a couple of different options, including guided and self-guided. The one that caught my attention is the prison after dark tours. The place is also famous for paranormal activity. Definitely, one of the most unique attractions in Illinois.