51. The Joliet Prison

Route 66 Podcast

The Joliet Prison, in Joliet IL, is one of the oldest prisons in the United States that housed both criminals and enemies from the Civil War. Popularized by the popular movie, The Blues Brothers, the Joliet Prison permanently closed in 2002 and began drawing national attention about the possibility of being operated as a tourist destination along Route 66.

Join Route 66 Podcast host Anthony Arno as he talks with Greg Peerbolte, Chief Executive Officer of the Old Joliet Prison Historic Site. Together, they talk about the entire 144 year operational history of the prison, including the on the following topics:

• Early history and construction during the Civil War
• William Boyington - noted Chicago architect
• Daily life at Joliet Prison
• Special holidays at Joliet Prison
• Joliet Prison as a manufacturing center
• Popular wardens at Joliet Prison
• Did Chicken Joe Campbell really murder the warden's wife?
• Ida B. Wells, Civil Rights advocate and founder of the NAACP, visits Joliet in support for Campbell's fair trial
• Notorious inmates at Joliet through the years
• 1 year sentence at Joliet for stealing the body of President Lincoln
• Prison tourism
• Attempted escapes at Joliet
• The most unusual inmate who tried to break into Joliet
• Turning the ruins of Joliet into art
• The Blues Brothers at Joliet
• Female inmates