Old Jail Museum: Explore St. Augustine's Historic Prison

Step back in time and experience the Old Jail Museum in St. Augustine. Discover the history of America’s oldest prison and get a glimpse into the lives of its prisoners. Book a guided tour today!

Duration: 30 minutes
Cancellation: 24 hours
Highlights
  • Old Jail Museum - For nearly 60 years – until 1953 – the Old Jail served as the St. Johns County facility for petty thieves and hardened criminals. There were even eight recorded executions, two of which were accused murderers. Sim Jackson, who was hanged in 1908 after murdering his wife with a straight razor, is among the group.
    Today, visitors…
What's Included
  • Admission to Old Jail
What's Not Included
  • Transportation to/from attraction
  • Food and drinks
  • St. Augustine Old Jail closed on Christmas Day.
Additional Information

Situated on San Marco Avenue, in the Uptown District of St. Augustine, the Old Jail Museum provides an educational and fascinating insight into the living conditions of prisoners in the Nation’s Oldest City. Experience an intriguing guided tour conducted by the ‘jailers,’ revealing a captivating view of the cells where convicted men and women were…

Location
Old Jail Museum
San Marco Avenue
Cancellation Policy

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Customer Ratings
4.8
(740 Ratings)
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Vasoullas
Aug 12, 2026
Lovely area and experience - It was a lovely experience for a child to visit as well as adults. The guide was very knowledgable … worth a visit for sure
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dcmarcus
Aug 11, 2026
Old Jail Experience - The "Jail" tour was better than expected. It was like attending a live interactive theatrical experience. The tour guide (I think her name was Lydia) was extremely knowledgeable and played the part beautifully. I did leave a bit sad to think that people were treated so poorly even if they were guilty of societal infractions. Better to do this tour at the beginning of the day so you have time to recover.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Ronaldf07734
Jul 27, 2026
A Lock and Look at a Less Glamorous History. - It is important to recognize that with any tour, every individual is given a set of bullet points. They cannot deviate from it. Alongside is a collection of additional facts that they can share as they desire. In this fashion, everyone gets the same quality experience, but one that is unique to the individual. Having taken the old jail tour several times, each one has been enjoyable, even if the information isn't exact. The very first time we took the tour was with Patrick. Clearly passionate about what he does, and the information he shares. This time, we had prisoner trusty Peaches. The danger of having an exceptional experience is it sets the bar for everything to come. Peaches very quickly, established himself as someone equally as passionate and knowledgeable about the facility and material. The information provided is educational, sometimes there's an entertaining or humorous aspect, but other points weigh heavily on the gravity of the space and things that happened. One of the first things pointed out to us, is to imagine that there are no windows and no AC. Imagine what the space feels like in June, July, or August. Since the tour begins outside, it's easy to imagine how brutal the environment and temperature is inside. A fascinating building with great amounts of information, you are likely in good hands with anyone who leads the tour. Pro tip - ask questions, and take photos, especially with your tour guide, and whatever you do, make sure to grab a survey postcard. You can thank them with tips, and you CAN THANK them with feedback. If they deserve it, give it to them.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Roam562740
Jul 22, 2026
Fun Guide - Our guide was Peaches and he was a lot of great. It’s a small building and short tour so the guide makes or breaks the experience. We were grateful that Peaches made it fun.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Sightseer14905981479
Jul 21, 2026
Don’t do the crime if you can’t do the time! - We had an amazing time touring the Old Jail in St. Augustine! Our guide, Louis (Lewis), the “trustee inmate,” absolutely made the experience. He was incredibly knowledgeable, super informative, and one of the funniest, most entertaining tour guides we’ve ever had. His storytelling, sense of humor, and interaction with the group brought the history to life. Without a doubt, this was one of the highlights of our trip to St. Augustine. We couldn’t stop laughing while still learning so much about the jail’s fascinating history. I highly recommend this tour to all of our family and friends. If you get the chance, make sure you see Louis—he’s definitely a character! 😂 We can’t say enough good things about the experience. Employees like Louis are a huge asset and deserve to be recognized and taken care of. Thank you for making our visit so memorable!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
219jinap
Jul 13, 2026
Got a great tour, outstanding guide, $ well spent - We had a great time visiting the Old Jail in St. Augustine! The tour was both entertaining and educational, and our guide, Lizzy, was absolutely fantastic. She stayed in character the entire time, made the history come alive, and kept everyone engaged with her humor and storytelling. You could tell she really enjoys what she does. If you’re visiting St. Augustine, this tour is definitely worth adding to your itinerary—and if you get Lizzy as your guide, you’re in for a treat!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Dinan9999
Jul 8, 2026
Good fun in jail - This was my first time in Saint Augustine. I ran across the old jail in suggestions for what to do in and around town. The tour did not disappoint. It was full of great stories and really helped you get a glimpse into the past and what people had to endure after breaking the law. Patti was our tour guide and was amazing! She was knowledgeable and engaging throughout the tour. She helped make the experience come alive. Thanks for an excellent time!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Melissa
Jun 7, 2026
Request Benny! - Benny is hilarious. Very educational and loved his song.
Review provided by Tripadvisor
Donnad
May 23, 2026
So much fun - This was GREAT! Our guide Lizzie was fun and informative, and she made the experience inter-active. One of the best tour guides I’ve ever had It is an appropriate tour for all ages and I highly recommend it!
Review provided by Viator
Jeanbrodie75
May 2, 2026
Best “Inmate” Tour Guide - Benny the “inmate” tour guide was very entertaining while also knowledgeable of history. He interacted with us, the audience, with jokes and song! (And he can sing!!) He made this tour the highlight of our St Augustine trip! Five stars for Benny!
Review provided by Tripadvisor
From $19
up to 9 guests
1 - Adult
Cancellation: Free cancellation up to 24 hours before the start of your experience (local time).