Jackson County Jail and Marshal's House, Historic jail and residence in Independence, Missouri.
The Jackson County Jail and Marshal's House is a combination jail and residence in Independence, Missouri. The rear section holds twelve original limestone cells, while the front portion contains the marshal's living quarters.
The structure was built in 1859 in the federal style and served as both detention facility and officer housing until 1933. It reflects how law enforcement spaces were organized during the 1800s and early 1900s in America.
The building shows how law enforcement officers in the 1800s lived at their workplace to keep watch over prisoners around the clock. This mix of home and work under one roof was common practice for smaller official buildings of that era.
Visitors can walk through both the jail cells and the residential spaces to get a sense of daily life in the building. It helps to spend time in both sections to fully understand how the work and home areas were separated.
The building once held Frank James in a specially equipped room with fine carpet where he spent time playing cards with visitors. His six-month stay left a remarkable footnote in the building's history.
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