Old Joliet Prison
Filmed as Fox River State Penitentiary
📍 1125 Collins Street, Joliet, IL 60432, Joliet, United States
Scene breakdown
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Fox River State Penitentiary
S01E01Michael arrives at Fox River, where his brother waits on death row.
Michael Scofield Lincoln Burrows -
Fox River infirmary
S01E01Michael makes his first visit to the prison infirmary and meets the doctor on duty.
Michael Scofield Sara Tancredi -
Fox River State Penitentiary
S01E06 Mild spoilersA heat wave tips the prison into a full-scale riot.
Michael ScofieldSpoilers for Prison Break are hidden — tap to reveal, or change it under Spoilers in the menu.
Real-world history
Illinois' Joliet penitentiary opened in 1858, was built largely of local limestone by convict labour, and closed in 2002. Three years later it became Fox River State Penitentiary, with the infirmary, chapel, yard, solitary and sally port all used on camera. It reopened to visitors in 2018 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Logistics & accessibility
Admission: Run by the Joliet Area Historical Museum. Self-guided visits and guided history tours are offered seasonally, with special tours (hard-hat, flashlight, film-themed) on select dates. The site generally closes for winter. Book tickets in advance through the museum's Old Joliet Prison site and check the current schedule and prices.
Parking & accessibility: Visitor parking at the site; tours start from the Welcome Center on Collins Street. Confirm details when booking.
Best time to visit: Spring to autumn, when the site is open. Most of the visit is outdoors on uneven ground, so wear closed-toe shoes.
What else to see here
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Crown Fountain
The Season 1 Millennium Park meeting spot in Chicago.
Public art
About 1 hr drive