02/20/09

Photo Gallery: Dawson County Jail

The jail, located just down the street from the courthouse, is one of the few remaining jails in the country with bars instead of steel plating on the walls and doors (Alcatraz is another). The four cells are upstairs, while the downstairs currently houses county offices (historical/chamber of commerce).

Two cells are locked but exhibit items from a general store, while the other two open cells hold small exhibits - one with various things one might find in a prison cell and the other featuring items from Dawson County's early days as a gold rush town. The open cells can be closed by visitors, but I don't recommend doing it without someone outside the cell - despite there being only bars on the cells, opening the doors once closed is no easy task from the inside. (I guess I should note that I didn't get stuck inside!) The last image features some writing etched in the wall by a former inmate. The first inside image shows the storage for groundbreaking ceremonies.