Castleton Jail

Castleton Jail is a stone prison building originally built in Castleton, Vermont and now displayed at Shelburne Museum. The structure contains two cells and a jailer's area, with all components constructed entirely from slate quarried in the region.

The building was constructed in 1890 in Castleton and served as a working jail for over 50 years before moving to the museum in 1953. The relocation marked its shift from an active facility to a preserved historical object.

The jail demonstrates how slate was central to local building traditions in this part of Vermont. Walking around it, you see how quarried stone became part of everyday structures that shaped community life.

The jail is accessible at the museum where visitors can enter the narrow cells through heavy iron doors and experience the dim interior spaces. It helps to spend time looking at the tight quarters and simple fixtures to understand what confinement meant.

The 50-ton structure was transported from Castleton to the museum on specially designed carts with rubber wheels, an impressive technical feat for its era. This move was an unusual accomplishment that shows how valuable buildings could be preserved rather than demolished.

Location: Shelburne

GPS coordinates: 44.37800,-73.22990

Latest update: December 14, 2025 18:01