About
Maintained by the Pioneer Museum, the Jail of 1885 is quite the spectacle to see. This facility is a simple two-story stone structure with a rich history that is both alluring and scary.
Gillespie County built its first jail in 1852 and then constructed a second one in 1859. As the town grew, the county needed a third jail, which was built in 1870, but a fire destroyed it. The county built its fourth and final facility in 1885, which is what stands today.
When you visit, you’ll see a small holding area and very simple living quarters for the Warden and his family. Upstairs are two steel-clad cells on the far east wall, while those in the center were the “max” security options.
This jail was operational from 1885 to 1939 and has a wealth of stories about its inmates and jailers.
For a sobering reminder of history, add the Jail of 1885 to your Texas Hill Country getaway.
Jail of 1885: Fun Facts & Cool Features
The jail itself is 25 feet wide by 35 feet deep and 20 to 22 feet high across two stories. Though that may be quite small in today’s time, it was a good size for the town.
Surrounding the jail is a five-foot stone wall with embedded broken pieces of glass protruding outward. This was done to discourage anyone from having any notion of trying to leave the jail by scaling the wall.
The first floor of the old jail was used as a lockup cell until they could decide what to do with them next. Over the years, it was where women brought in for questioning were held.
In August 1939, the final inmate at the jail was transferred to the county's fifth jail at the county courthouse. This improved the overall convenience of locking up prisoners with their court dates.
In 1980, the Jail of 1885 became a Recorded Text Historic Landmark, preserving it for generations to come. And while its design is simple, it has an impressive history that many “feel” when visiting.
Getting There
The Jail of 1885 sits right off W. Main Street in Fredericksburg. You’ll find it located between S. Edison St. and N. Bowie St, right across the street from the Red Baron Antique Mall.
Cost
The jail is open the first Saturday of each month from 10 AM to 3 PM.
- Ages 6 and over: $5 per person.
- Ages 5 and under: free.
Local Tips
- Located between the Nagel and the Haus memorial, the jail is right across the street from the Golupski County Courthouse.
- It can be hard to get a tour during the warmer and tourism-centric parts of the year. Arrive early to make sure you get a chance to explore the area.
- This is part of the Haunted Fredericksburg Ghost Walk, so if you prefer a nighttime look inside, make sure to join the tour.
- The inside is a bit tricky to navigate, so if you don’t like dark spaces or are fearful of being in basements and tight areas, this can be a bit of a fright-inducing experience.