Pottawattamie County Jail

A restored 1885 rotary jail in Council Bluffs, known as the Squirrel Cage Jail, operated as a museum.

226 Pearl Street, Council Bluffs, Iowa · Council Bluffs, IA

About Pottawattamie County Jail

Known locally as the Squirrel Cage Jail, this 1885 building held prisoners until 1969. Its cells sit inside a cage that turns, so a single jailer could reach any prisoner without walking the block. The Historical Society of Pottawattamie County owns and runs the site today. Visitors can see the restored cell section, where past prisoners left signatures and dates scratched into the walls. The museum also hosts seasonal after-hours tours focused on the building's reputation for hauntings.

#rotary jail
#squirrel cage jail
#National Register of Historic Places
#National Historic Landmark
#Council Bluffs

What's around here?

The closest stops to Pottawattamie County Jail, ordered by straight-line distance. A few more like it, plus some different kinds of fun so you can build a full day.

Theater & Events
Local Gem
Hoff Family Arts & Culture Center
Under $25
A 95,000-square-foot arts hub in Council Bluffs with a 280-seat theater, galleries, and studios.
Transit: reachable by public transit
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Sightseeing
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Visitor information for Council Bluffs, Iowa, a Missouri River city across from Omaha at the gateway to the Loess Hills.
Transit: reachable by public transit
2.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Sightseeing
Outdoor Adventure
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No admission fee
Southwest Iowa county anchored by Council Bluffs, with riverfront trails and a historic downtown.
Transit: reachable by public transit
2.6 mi awaySwitch it up: Sightseeing
Museums
Kiewit Luminarium
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4.3 mi awayMore like this
Museums
History Buff
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Transit: reachable by public transit
4.7 mi awayMore like this
Museums
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