The Old Jail Museum at 128 West Broadway in Jim Thorpe was the Carbon County prison from 1870 until 1995. On June 21, 1877, four men accused of being Molly Maguires were hanged inside its cell block, and a handprint on the wall of Cell 17, attributed to one of the condemned men, is still there.
Today it's a privately owned museum with guided tours of the 27-cell block and the basement dungeon cells. It's one of the most popular stops in Jim Thorpe, and weekend tours can sell out by mid-afternoon.
The history
- Built in 1869-1870, the jail served Carbon County until 1995 and is on the National Register of Historic Places.
- On June 21, 1877, the Day of the Rope, Alexander Campbell, Edward Kelly, Michael Doyle and John Donohue were hanged in the cell block. Three more men were hanged on the same gallows in 1878-79.
- The handprint in Cell 17 has survived washing, painting and a partial rebuild of the wall. The museum's own site credits it to Thomas Fisher in one place and Alexander Campbell in another.
- The basement dungeon cells were used for solitary confinement until 1980.
Sources: Old Jail Museum: history
Tours, tickets and hours
- Tickets as posted: adults $13, ages 13-17 $10, ages 5-12 $7, ages 2-4 $1. Active military with ID free; veterans with ID $2 off.
- Fall 2026: weekend tours run noon to the last tour at 4 PM, first come, first served. Weekend tickets are sold in person only (cash appreciated), and you can buy for a later tour the same day.
- Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday tours are by online reservation only. Closed Wednesdays.
- Late in the season the museum opens November weekends and December only if weather allows; no winter or 2027 schedule is posted yet.
- Private tours for groups of 20 or more (25 per tour). No buses: there's no space to unload or turn around.
Sources: Old Jail Museum: tours & visit
Parking, access and rules
- Park at the downtown meters or the county lot behind the train station off Route 209 (about five blocks' walk). The church lot across the street is sometimes available. West Broadway street parking is permit only ($50 ticket).
- Every entrance has steps, and the second floor and dungeon are reached only by stairs. Staff can hold doors but can't physically assist.
- No pets (service animals only). Ghost hunting and paranormal equipment aren't allowed.
Sources: Old Jail Museum
