We were overwhelmed and didn't know what to ask.Īll in all, this is a unique adventure and a great one to experience. I also wish the staff would have engaged more by offering to share information (stories & facts) instead of simply asking if we had questions. I think it would have made for a richer tour. In hindsight, I wish we would have chosen differently. In fairness it would be a huge place to maintain.Īlthough I did see some guided tours available (maybe only certain dates and times?) we opted for the self-guided experience. This certainly isn't an insult but instead my ignorance. I guess I had assumed they had worked to keep it up. The condition of the prison is quite bad. To be honest, we weren't exactly sure what to expect and it ended up being quite different than we imagined. We decided to stop by the Old Joliet Prison and glad we did. Our family has been learning about Route 66 and exploring Illinois' route history.