Lower Lake Stone Jail

The Lower Lake Stone Jail is a small detention building made of stone in Lower Lake, California, built in 1876. The structure features thick stone walls reinforced with iron fittings and stands today on Main Street as an example of early law enforcement architecture.

The building was constructed in 1876 by Stephen Nicolai and the Copsey brothers during the quicksilver mining boom in the area. Its creation shows how quickly local authorities responded to population growth in mining communities.

The jail reflects how mining towns organized law enforcement to manage growing populations. The building itself shows the practical approach locals took to public safety in frontier communities.

The building sits directly on Main Street in Lower Lake and is easy to spot from the road. Visitors should expect a small, compact structure that was clearly built to be durable and secure.

This jail ranks among the smallest correctional facilities ever built in the United States. Its tiny dimensions make it an unusual and memorable example of law enforcement architecture from that era.

Location: California

GPS coordinates: 38.91060,-122.61000

Latest update: December 14, 2025 12:21