Adams County Jail (Corning, Iowa)W
Adams County Jail (Corning, Iowa)

The former Adams County Jail, also known as the House of History: Adams County Historical Society, is located in Corning, Iowa, United States. The limestone structure was built in 1877, and it mimicked the adjacent frame courthouse. The two-story rectangular building is a Vernacular style structure with Greek Revival influence. It is capped with a hipped roof and a flat crest. It served the county for the next 78 years as its jailhouse. The building also provided residential space on the lower level to the sheriff, or if he had his own house, to the jailer. The upper floor held the cells. The most notable event at the jail was the lynching of local farmer John W. McKenzie in 1887, who had shot his neighbor. The building was converted into apartments in 1955, and a museum in 1969. It listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1991.

Appanoose County Sheriff's House and JailW
Appanoose County Sheriff's House and Jail

The Appanoose County Sheriff's House and Jail is a historic structure located in Centerville, Iowa, United States. Provisions for a jail in Appanoose County were not realized until 1855 when a small stone building was constructed. It was used for about ten years when one of the inmates easily escaped.

Franklin County Sheriff's Residence and JailW
Franklin County Sheriff's Residence and Jail

The Franklin County Sheriff's Residence and Jail is a historic building located in Hampton, Iowa, United States. The combination sheriff's residence and jail was the most common type of detention facility built by Iowa counties from the 1840s to around 1950. In this facility in Hampton the sheriff's residence was the two-story Italianate style structure closest to the street. There was a cell on the second floor used for female or juvenile prisoners. The sheriff's wife generally provided the meals and laundry services for the prisoners from the residence. The small cell block for men and a women's holding cell was in the single-story wing off of the back of the house. The building was constructed by local attorney D.W. Dow, and P.J. Pauly & Bro. of St. Louis provided the cells. It was completed in 1880. The sheriff continued to reside here into the 1960s, and the building was used for a jail until 1988. It was individually listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1996. In 2003 it was included as a contributing property in the Hampton Double Square Historic District.

Cedar County Sheriff's House and JailW
Cedar County Sheriff's House and Jail

Cedar County Sheriff's House and Jail are historic buildings located in Tipton, Iowa, United States. The facility was known as a “Mom and Pop Jail.” The sheriff's wife, who was Mom, did the cooking and the sheriff, or a deputy, was Pop and provided supervision and administration. It is thought to be the last jail and residence combination still in use when it closed in 2001. The buildings were constructed in brick and were listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2003 as a part of the Municipal, County and State Corrections Properties MPS.

Delmar CalabooseW
Delmar Calaboose

Delmar Calaboose is a historic one-room jail located in Delmar, Iowa, United States. The word calaboose is a corruption of the Spanish word calabozo, which means dungeon. The building was built for and used as a jail in frontier Iowa. The walls and roof of the one-story structure are composed of limestone and mortar. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1981.

Dubuque County JailW
Dubuque County Jail

The Dubuque County Jail is a historic building at 36 East 8th Street in Dubuque, Iowa, United States. Completed in 1858, the jail is an example of the uncommon Egyptian Revival style. It is architecturally a highly original work of John F. Rague, who also designed the 1837 Old Capitol of Illinois and the 1840 Territorial Capitol of Iowa. The building was designated a National Historic Landmark for its architecture in 1987. It served as a jail for more than a century, became a museum in 1975, and was converted into county offices in 2016.

Jackson County Jail (Andrew, Iowa)W
Jackson County Jail (Andrew, Iowa)

The former Jackson County Jail, also known as the Andrew Jail, is a historic building located in Andrew, Iowa, United States. Built in 1871 by local contractors Strasser and Schlecht, this building is the only reminder that Andrew was at one time the county seat for Jackson County. The stone blocks were quarried locally and vary somewhat in shape and size. They were laid in courses, and the window sills and lintels are composed of flat stones. The structure is capped with a cross-gable roof. After the courthouse moved to Maquoketa in 1873 the jail remained here until 1896. After a new jail was built in Maquoketa, this building was primarily used as a residence. A couple of frame additions have been built onto the building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1978.

Lu Verne City JailW
Lu Verne City Jail

The Lu Verne City Jail, also known as the Old Calaboose, is a historic building located in Lu Verne, Iowa, United States. The city built its first jail in 1899. On May 6, 1912 they decided to build the current structure at the same location. They sold the old building, and C. Black completed the new 14-by-20-foot structure for $181.15. The single-story building is composed of concrete blocks that were cast to resemble cut stone. E.T. Barnum Ironworks of Detroit, Michigan provided the parts for the cells. The jail housed short-term offenders, usually those who were inebriated, committed petty crimes, and later hobos. The building also housed the fire department's hose cart. It served as a jail until 1934 when a new city hall was built. The jail cells were moved there at that time, and this building housed a welding shop sometime after that. The jail cells were returned to this building in 1975, and it is maintained by the Lu Verne Historical Society. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992.

Montgomery County Jail (Red Oak, Iowa)W
Montgomery County Jail (Red Oak, Iowa)

The Montgomery County Jail, also known as the Joint Law Enforcement Center, is located in Red Oak, Iowa, United States. Built in 2012, the facility houses administrative offices for the Montgomery County Sheriff's Department, the Red Oak Police Department, the Joint Communications Center and a 24-bed jail. The historic jail, built in 1899, was adjacent to the present building. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1992, and torn down after the new facility was built.

Old Jail (Muscatine, Iowa)W
Old Jail (Muscatine, Iowa)

The Old Jail is an historic building located in Muscatine, Iowa, United States. The building was built in 1857 across the street from the Muscatine County Courthouse. It replaced the original county jail that had been built in 1839. It was replaced by the county in 1907. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974.

Pottawattamie County JailW
Pottawattamie County Jail

The Pottawattamie County Jail, also known as 'Squirrel Cage Jail' in Council Bluffs, Iowa, United States was built in 1885 and it was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1972. The building is a Squirrel Cage Jail, also known as a Rotary Jail.

Red Oak Firehouse and City JailW
Red Oak Firehouse and City Jail

The Red Oak Firehouse and City Jail is a historic building located in Red Oak, Iowa, United States. The Red Oak Fire Company was formed in 1876 and a shed was built to house its equipment. The present Late Victorian style brick structure was built by the city in five stages. A two-story firehouse, which housed the hand-drawn fire carts and other firefighting equipment, was completed in January 1898. The two-story City Jail was architecturally integrated into the original structure in 1901. It was operated by the city marshal to house those who broke municipal ordinances, and to provide a bed and a meal to those who were homeless. Another two-story addition was completed in 1907. It was a stable to house the horses that pulled the new firefighting equipment, which was housed in another addition that was built at the same time on the south side of the structure.

Ringgold County JailW
Ringgold County Jail

The Ringgold County Jail is a historic building located in Mount Ayr, Iowa, United States. It was the second building that housed the county jail from its completion in 1895 until the present Ringgold County Courthouse and jail was built in 1927. The building was sold to the American Legion who used it for its local post until 1978. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1979. Subsequently, the building has housed commercial establishments.

Scott County Jail (Iowa)W
Scott County Jail (Iowa)

The Scott County Jail is the main detention facility for Scott County, Iowa, United States. Inmates are housed for no more than one year, by Iowa law. It is located in the county seat, Davenport, and is part of same facility as the Scott County Courthouse.

Tama County JailW
Tama County Jail

The former Tama County Jail, now known as the Tama County Historical Museum, is located in Toledo, Iowa, United States. Tama County was established in 1853 but did not have a jail. It sent its convicted criminals to neighboring counties. courthouse was completed in 1865, and discussions turned toward providing a jail. The county Board of Supervisors decided in January 1869 to proceed with plans, and in June 1870 they contracted with Toledo builder David Stoner to design and build the new building. It was completed by the end of the year. The sheriff and his family lived on the second floor and acted as the jailers. A two-story addition was built onto the rear of the building in the late 19th century to provide more space.