Hot Springs in Fall River County, South Dakota — The American Midwest (Upper Plains)

REPLACED

CHECK OTHERS NEARBY

An Old Jail

1888

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2010

1. An Old Jail - 1888 Marker

Inscription. Nobody suspected that this old jail existed until it was found within the walls of a frame house on 332 South Chicago Street, Hot Springs. The old residence was being taken down for salvage. Although it’s earliest history is obscure, it was intended to keep people incarcerated. It is the oldest wooden jail in existence in South Dakota and possibly in all 50 states.

Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: Law Enforcement • Settlements & Settlers. A significant historical year for this entry is 1888.

Location. This marker has been replaced by another marker nearby. It was located near 43° 26.176′ N, 103° 28.88′ W. Marker was in Hot Springs, South Dakota, in Fall River County. It was on North River Street (U.S. 385) 0.1 miles south of Main Street, on the right when traveling south. Marker is mounted at eye-level, directly on the front of the subject jail, under the jail cell window, facing River Street. Touch for map. Marker was at or near this postal address: 640 North River Street, Hot Springs SD 57747, United States of America. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker was in West River.

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It was also in the American Black Hills,

in the Lewis & Clark Corridor,

on the prairies,

and on the Northern Plains.

Globally, it was in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it found itself in what was once Rupert’s Land

and also the Louisiana Purchase.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 4 miles of this location, measured as the crow flies: Historic Wood Jail (here, next to this marker); Sandstone Architecture of Hot Springs, SD (about 400 feet away, measured in a direct line); Battle Mountain (approx. 0.4 miles away); Mammoth Site of Hot Springs, SD (approx. 0.9 miles away); Leslie Jensen Scenic Drive (approx. 1.6 miles away); Hot Springs, SD (approx. 1.6 miles away); a different marker also named Leslie Jensen Scenic Drive (approx. 3.8 miles away); John Stevenson Robertson: Pioneer Horticulturalist (approx. 4.1 miles away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Hot Springs.

Related marker. Click here for another marker that is related to this marker.

1888 Hot Springs Jail (<i>wide view; marker visible under window</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2010

2. 1888 Hot Springs Jail (wide view; marker visible under window)

1888 Hot Springs Jail image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2010

3. 1888 Hot Springs Jail

1888 Hot Springs Jail Door image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2010

4. 1888 Hot Springs Jail Door

1888 Hot Springs Jail (<i>wide view from Main Street; old railroad depot in background</i>) image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2010

5. 1888 Hot Springs Jail (wide view from Main Street; old railroad depot in background)

1888 Hot Springs Jail Interior image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Cosmos Mariner, June 22, 2010

6. 1888 Hot Springs Jail Interior

Credits. This page was last revised on October 10, 2025. It was originally submitted on September 29, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. This page has been viewed 834 times since then and 26 times this year. Last updated on August 21, 2025, by Susan Van Den Bosch of Almond, Wisconsin. Photos: 1. submitted on September 30, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. submitted on October 1, 2018, by Cosmos Mariner of Cape Canaveral, Florida. • Devry Becker Jones was the editor who published this page.