Squirrel Cage Jail: A Revolving Relic of the Old West

The Squirrel Cage Jail, officially the Pottawattamie County Jail, is a fascinating and eerie piece of architectural and social history located in Council Bluffs, Iowa. Built in 1885, it's one of only three remaining rotary jails in the United States, and the only one that was built three stories high. The jail was designed by William H. Brown and Benjamin F. Haugh of Indianapolis, Indiana, and its construction cost approximately $30,000. The jail's unique design featured a rotating series of pie-shaped cells within a large cage. This "squirrel cage" design was intended to provide maximum security while minimizing the need for jailer interaction with prisoners. The jailer could rotate the cell block using a hand crank, bringing each cell to a single access point. Although innovative, the design proved to have its flaws, and the heavy mechanism would sometimes get stuck. The front part of the building housed the jailer's office, kitchen, trustee cells, and quarters for women. The jail remained in operation until 1969. Over the years, the signatures and dates of former prisoners have been scratched into the cell walls, offering a chilling glimpse into the lives of those incarcerated within. Today, the Squirrel Cage Jail is operated as a museum by the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County. Visitors can tour the jail and learn about its history, its unique design, and the stories of some of its inmates. For those interested in the paranormal, the jail has a reputation for being haunted, with many reports of strange occurrences.