Everything You Need to Know About Visiting Old Jail

Jared / Flickr

Key Info

167 San Marco Ave.
St. Augustine, FL 32084
Tours & Tickets

Details

Museums, Sightseeing Type
1 to 2 hours Time to Spend

4.0

Overall

Scorecard

Value

4.0
Facilities

3.5
Atmosphere

4.5

Read about how we rank Things to Do.

St. Augustine's Old Jail was built in 1891 to accommodate the city's criminals. Financed by railroad magnate Henry Flagler, the jail was designed to blend in with the rest of the Ancient City's buildings and features Romanesque Revival-style architecture. In 1954, a year after the jail closed, the property reopened as a historic attraction. The facility was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.

Past visitors praised the Old Jail's tours, which are led by guides dressed up in period attire. Tours are not only informative, but also offer a glimpse into the conditions prisoners encountered in the jail. If you have an interest in the paranormal, travelers recommended taking the multi-attraction Ghosts & Gravestones tour, which includes a night tour of the Old Jail, along with the Old Drug Store and Potter's Wax Museum.

The Old Jail can be found a mile northwest of downtown's historic area by the Florida Heritage Museum and Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park. To get to the jail, visitors can drive or take the trolley to the No. 1 trolley stop. Free on-site parking is available, as well as restrooms and a gift shop. The attraction is open daily from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Admission costs $9.54 for adults and $5.30 for children 6 to 12. Entrance fees are waived for children 5 and younger, and reduced rates are offered when tickets are booked in advance on Old Town Trolley Tours' website. Travelers who purchase a Ghosts & Gravestones tour ticket or one of Old Town Trolley Tours' attraction packages do not have to pay additional fees to visit the jail.

Hotels Nearby

Thing to Do
Hotel

DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel St. Augustine Historic District ...

0.3 Miles Away
3.5-star Hotel Class

Howard Johnson Inn Historic Saint Augustine ...

0.1 Miles Away
2.0-star Hotel Class

Holiday Inn St. Augustine - Historic ...

0.2 Miles Away
3.0-star Hotel Class

See all hotels in St. Augustine »

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#1 St. George Street Antiquities, historic attractions and delectable cuisine are just a few of the things you'll find on St. George Street, the city's central pedestrian thoroughfare. At the northern end ... Read more » Glowimages / Getty Images

#2 Castillo de San Marcos National Monument Castillo de San Marcos served as a fort for more than 205 years. Built between 1672 and 1695 by the Spanish, it protected the newly established territory of Spanish Florida ... Read more » Sean Pavone / Getty Images

#3 St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum The St. Augustine Lighthouse & Maritime Museum features shipwreck artifacts, a wooden boat building exhibit and a 165-foot-tall lighthouse. The lighthouse, which was built between 1871 and 1874, is the oldest ... Read more » Glowimages / Getty Images

#4 Lightner Museum The eclectic Lightner Museum is located just south of Flagler College near St. Augustine's historic city center. Housed within the former Alcazar Hotel, which was built by Henry Flagler ... Read more » Paulbr / Getty Images

#5 Colonial Quarter Located on St. George Street in downtown St. Augustine's historic district, the Colonial Quarter offers visitors a glimpse into the lives of 16th-, 17th- and 18th-century residents. The living ... Read more » Michael Warren / Getty Images

#6 Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park Ponce de Leon's Fountain of Youth Archaeological Park is the site of St. Augustine's original settlement. The Fountain of Youth, a mythical spring believed to have anti-aging properties ... Read more » museseeker / Flickr

#7 St. Augustine Beach Situated 5 miles southeast of St. Augustine's historic district, St. Augustine Beach features roughly 2 miles of white-sand beach and clear water. The beach is popular with families, thanks ... Read more » Cody Christian / Flickr

#8 St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum As its name suggests, the St. Augustine Pirate & Treasure Museum displays a variety of pirate artifacts, including the world's oldest "Wanted" poster, the world's only pirate treasure ... Read more » Moultrie Creek / Flickr

#9 Old Jail St. Augustine's Old Jail was built in 1891 to accommodate the city's criminals. Financed by railroad magnate Henry Flagler, the jail was designed to blend in with the ... Read more » Jared / Flickr

#10 St. Augustine Wild Reserve For an up-close look at exotic animals, check out the St. Augustine Wild Reserve. This nonprofit sanctuary was established in 1995 as a care center for rescued and unwanted exotic animals ... Read more » Somak Pal / Getty Images