The jail was built to resemble a Victorian-style house to prevent neighborhood opposition during its construction.
It served as the St. Johns County Jail for 62 years before being decommissioned.
The interior contains original steel cells designed by the Pauley Jail Building Company.
The sheriff and his family lived in the front section of the building, separated from the prisoners by only a wall.
The site includes a reconstruction of a hanging gallows used for executions.
During the building's operational history, prisoners were forced to perform hard labor, including road work and quarrying.
The Old Jail Museum is a historic 1891 prison facility in St. Augustine that functioned as a county jail until 1953. Constructed by the Pauley Jail Building Company, the site was designed to look like a hotel or private residence from the exterior to hide its true purpose from the public. The building consists of the sheriff's living quarters in the front and the high-security cell blocks in the rear. Guests tour the facility with costumed actors portraying deputies and prisoners. The museum retains original equipment, including iron cell doors, restraint devices, and the gallows room. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The facility offers a grim, immersive look into the late 19th-century criminal justice system in Florida.
The exterior porch, which provides the best angle of the Victorian architecture that masks the jail cells.
Join a guided tour to hear specific historical anecdotes from the actors that are not posted on signage.
Visit on a weekday to avoid the heaviest crowds common on weekends.
The building is not climate-controlled in all areas, so dress according to the Florida heat.
Do not expect a typical 'fine art' museum experience; this is a themed, actor-led historical attraction.
Open daily year-round; may have limited operations on major holidays.
Maintain respectful behavior in the cell blocks and gallows area; avoid leaning on the original iron fixtures.
