St. Augustine Old Jail Museum Tour

From$19.16
30 min
St. Augustine, USA

About this activity

Discover the history of St. Augustine's justice system on a guided tour of the Old Jail Museum, including maximum security cells and tales of infamous criminals.

Highlights

  • Explore historic maximum security cells
  • Hear tales of infamous criminals
  • Learn about executions in the gallows
  • See the warden's family living quarters
  • Discover the history of St. Augustine's justice system

Full description

Step back in time and uncover the intriguing history of St. Augustine's Old Jail Museum. This engaging guided tour offers a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the city's most notorious criminals. Explore the maximum security cells where prisoners were once held, and hear captivating stories of their lives and misdeeds. Learn about the methods of execution in the gallows and see where the warden and his family lived just footsteps away from the inmates. This tour provides a unique perspective on the justice system of the nation's oldest city, making it a must-visit attraction for history enthusiasts and curious travelers alike.

Included / Excluded

  • Guided tour of the Old Jail Museum
  • Visit to maximum security cells
  • Historical accounts of infamous criminals
  • Food and beverages

Meeting point

Start Location

Unknown location

Important information

Know before you book

  • The tour is conducted in English; consider this if you require a different language.
  • The museum is wheelchair accessible; please inform the staff in advance for assistance.
  • Children under 12 must be accompanied by an adult during the tour.

Know before you go

  • Wear comfortable walking shoes as the tour involves walking through the museum.
  • Bring a camera to capture the historic architecture and exhibits.
  • Parking is available on-site; arrive early to secure a spot.

Cancellation policy

Free cancellation up to 1 days before the activity starts

For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.

Accessibility

  • Wheelchair Accessible
  • Stroller Accessible
  • Service Animals Allowed
  • Easy Public Transport

Good to know

  • Children 5 yrs. and younger are free
  • Free parking available
  • Reservations are not accepted; tours operate on a first come, first serve basis on the day of
  • Museum is wheelchair accessible on lower floor only.

Traveler reviews

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Lizzie is the best guide EVER.

Amazing tour of an old jail. So much to learn. Your guide was amazing and clearly enjoys her job. Lizzie was phenomenal and a wealth of knowledge. Lizzie made our visit so fun and enjoyable. She’s just an all around amazing person. Thank you Lizzie from OKC and Sunset Grill.

Nomad61700972842Aug 23, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Cool Tour!

The old jail is interesting. The jail tour includes a tour guide that is in character as one of the prisoners of the past. They walk you through the building and its history telling you about life was like behind bars at the facility. Not an easy life for those convicted of a crime as justice was a bit different back in the day. Make sure you get a discount coupon from the trolley or local tour booklets. We spent about an hour here.

577SusanHAug 20, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Lovely area and experience

It was a lovely experience for a child to visit as well as adults. The guide was very knowledgable … worth a visit for sure

vasoullasAug 12, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Old Jail Experience

The "Jail" tour was better than expected. It was like attending a live interactive theatrical experience. The tour guide (I think her name was Lydia) was extremely knowledgeable and played the part beautifully. I did leave a bit sad to think that people were treated so poorly even if they were guilty of societal infractions. Better to do this tour at the beginning of the day so you have time to recover.

dcmarcusAug 11, 2026TRIPADVISOR

A Lock and Look at a Less Glamorous History.

It is important to recognize that with any tour, every individual is given a set of bullet points. They cannot deviate from it. Alongside is a collection of additional facts that they can share as they desire. In this fashion, everyone gets the same quality experience, but one that is unique to the individual. Having taken the old jail tour several times, each one has been enjoyable, even if the information isn't exact. The very first time we took the tour was with Patrick. Clearly passionate about what he does, and the information he shares. This time, we had prisoner trusty Peaches. The danger of having an exceptional experience is it sets the bar for everything to come. Peaches very quickly, established himself as someone equally as passionate and knowledgeable about the facility and material. The information provided is educational, sometimes there's an entertaining or humorous aspect, but other points weigh heavily on the gravity of the space and things that happened. One of the first things pointed out to us, is to imagine that there are no windows and no AC. Imagine what the space feels like in June, July, or August. Since the tour begins outside, it's easy to imagine how brutal the environment and temperature is inside. A fascinating building with great amounts of information, you are likely in good hands with anyone who leads the tour. Pro tip - ask questions, and take photos, especially with your tour guide, and whatever you do, make sure to grab a survey postcard. You can thank them with tips, and you CAN THANK them with feedback. If they deserve it, give it to them.

ronaldf07734Jul 27, 2026TRIPADVISOR

Additional information

Children 5 yrs. and younger are free Free parking available Reservations are not accepted; tours operate on a first come, first serve basis on the day of Museum is wheelchair accessible on lower floor only.