Muscatine in Muscatine County, Iowa — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)
Old Jail
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021
1. Old Jail Marker
placed on the
National Register
of Historic Places
by the United States
Department of the Interior
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Architecture • Law Enforcement • Notable Buildings. In addition, it is included in the National Register of Historic Places series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1857.
Location. 41° 25.499′ N, 91° 2.626′ W. Marker is in Muscatine, Iowa, in Muscatine County. Marker is on East 4th Street just west of Mulberry Avenue, on the right when traveling west. The marker is mounted at eye-level on the front/south facade of the subject building, just to the right of the front entrance. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 411 East 4th Street, Muscatine IA 52761, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Address by President Lincoln (within shouting distance of this marker); Muscatine County All Veterans Memorial (about 300 feet away, measured in a direct line); Trinity Episcopal Church (about 700 feet away); Replica of the Statue of Liberty (approx. 0.2 miles away); Carry A. Nation (approx. 0.2 miles away); Muscatine Journal (approx.
this page online
Regarding Old Jail. National Register of Historic Places #74000801.
From the National Register Nomination: Built in 1856-1857 the Muscatine County Jail is the only remaining example of Greek Revival government architecture in Muscatine. It was built by the contractors Hines and Milford to replace a two-story wooden structure built in 1838-1839 on the nearby courthouse square. The Muscatine County Jail is a brick T-shaped structure, with a two-story main portion and one-story cell block wing at the rear. The jail has such well-preserved classical details as brick pilasters at the corners, brick dentilation at the cornice, an enframed main entrance and cornice returns at the gable ends of the roof. Living quarters are on the second floor where two rooms appear on each side of the central hallway. An L-shaped 1908 addition appears on the east side of the building. The Old Jail remains much as it did when first built in the 1850's and is in good condition.
Also see . . .
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021
2. Old Jail (southwest elevation)
From the National Register Nomination: On the west side of the main building is the sheriff's office with a side entrance to both the office and the cell block.
The Old Jail 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.(Submitted on January 2, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.)
Photographed By Cosmos Mariner, June 25, 2021
3. Old Jail (southeast elevation)
The marker is mounted between the right-side windows on the front façade.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 2, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 2, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 44 times since then. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on January 2, 2024, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida.
