Montgomery County Jail and Sheriff's Residence, historic rotary jail in Indiana
The Montgomery County Jail and Sheriff's Residence in Crawfordsville is a brick building from 1882 that housed both jail cells and the sheriff's family home under one roof. The structure blends Italianate, Gothic Revival, and Romanesque Revival styles with red brick and limestone details.
The building was completed in 1882 and gained fame for its innovative revolving jail system designed by architect William H. Brown and engineer Benjamin F. Haugh. The rotating cells allowed efficient prisoner management with minimal staff, but mechanical breakdowns eventually led to its closure in 1973.
The name tells the story of its dual purpose as both a jail and the sheriff's home, revealing how law enforcement and family life were intertwined in the 1800s. Visitors can still sense this unusual arrangement when walking through the spaces that served both functions.
The building is now open to the public as a museum and part of the Tannenbaum Cultural Center, offering regular tours and educational programs. Visitors should check ahead about tour availability since visiting options may vary throughout the year.
The building housed one of the world's rare rotating jails with sixteen wedge-shaped cells that turned on a central axis. It is one of only a few still standing and the only one in the United States still capable of rotating, making it a remarkable example of Victorian engineering.
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