The jail was designed by the Pauly Jail Building Company, which specialized in creating 'burglar-proof' cells using tool-resistant steel.
The sheriff and his family lived in the front section of the building, separated from the prisoners by a simple wooden door.
The structure was built to replace an earlier, inadequate wooden jail that frequently suffered from jailbreaks.
During the building's operating period, the sheriff was responsible for cooking meals for both his family and the inmates.
The original gallows remain on the premises, highlighting the facility's history as a place of capital punishment.
Inmates were once housed in unheated cells with minimal ventilation, leading to harsh conditions during Florida's summer months.
The Old Jail in St. Augustine, Florida, is an authentic 19th-century penal institution preserved as a historical site. Constructed in 1891, it served the county for over 60 years until its closure in 1953. The structure was designed to resemble a residence to avoid alarming the surrounding community while maintaining strict security measures. Visitors can explore the sheriff's living quarters, the administrative offices, and the maximum-security cell blocks. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. It retains original features, including the gallows used for executions during its years of operation. The site is currently maintained and operated as part of the Old Town Trolley Tours network.
The front facade of the building, which features the distinctive Victorian-style residential architecture concealing the prison.
Combine your visit with a trolley tour ticket to maximize value and transportation efficiency.
Walk through the sheriff’s living quarters carefully to see the contrast between the family area and the cramped jail cells.
Allow extra time to read the placards in the jail yard, which detail the stories of specific former inmates.
Do not assume you can freely explore the cell blocks without a guided component, as the experience is structured around historical interpretation.
Open daily throughout the year, but may have limited accessibility during extreme weather events or private event rentals.
