We had an amazing time touring the Old Jail in St. Augustine! Our guide, Louis (Lewis), the "trustee inmate," absolutely made the experience. He was incredibly knowledgeable, super informative, and one of the funniest, most entertaining tour guides we've ever had. His storytelling, sense of humor, and interaction with the group brought the history to life. Without a doubt, this was one of the highlights of our trip to St. Augustine. We couldn't stop laughing while still learning so much about the jail's fascinating history. I highly recommend this tour to all of our family and friends. If you get the chance, make sure you see Louis--he's definitely a character! We can't say enough good things about the experience. Employees like Louis are a huge asset and deserve to be recognized and taken care of. Thank you for making our visit so memorable! read more

Old Jail Museum - Sheriff's Ford - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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If you're in St. Augustine, The Old Jail should absolutely be on your list of things to see. It's a fascinating little trip into Florida's history and conveniently located within walking distance of the Fountain of Youth. Of course, if you actually drank from the Fountain of Youth, then technically everything is within walking distance. The Old Jail itself is well maintained and gives you a real glimpse into what life was like behind bars back in the day. There's plenty of history here, and it's the kind of place that makes you appreciate modern conveniences like air conditioning, comfortable beds, and not being locked in a tiny cell. Our guide, unfortunately, tried a little too hard to get into character and crossed the line from entertaining into just plain creepy. I appreciate the effort, but there were moments when I wasn't sure if we were learning about the inmates or about to become them. Even with that, I'm still giving The Old Jail four stars. With a more relatable guide, this could easily have been a five-star experience. read more

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We visited the Old Jail Museum in St. Augustine and really enjoyed the experience overall. It's a well-preserved historic site built in 1891, and it does a great job bringing the past to life through guided tours and costumed actors who stay fully in character as inmates and guards. The tour is entertaining and educational at the same time you walk through the old cells, hear stories about the prisoners who were held there, and get a real sense of what conditions were like back then. The building itself has a lot of character, and the mix of history and storytelling keeps it engaging even if you're not usually into museums. It's also conveniently located in the Old Town area near other attractions, so it's easy to include as part of a bigger day of sightseeing. Tours run frequently, which makes it easy to fit into your schedule. read more

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I had a great time on this experience! I love the set up of the tour with you being the prisoner. It was funny and unexpected. Cornelius was amazing as our tour guide and made it so fun and engaging. Aside from the tour, there are many places to explore and plenty of fun photo ops at the museum as well. I definitely recommend this tour if looking to do something funny and touristy in St Aug! read more

Such a fun interactive tour. The tour guide was knowledgeable and humorous. Would recommend! read more

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This was a fun tourist experience. Very old jail that alcatraz even stole their design idea. The tour was very informative and when it was over they let us just roam and take it all in and take pics. Such a wild part of history. They even do night tours with ghost hunting and such with the electronic devices. Didnt do that but they told us about it and would love to do it when able to next time read more

Old Jail Museum - jail - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Another cool old building of Florida history! The tour guide did an excellent job of storytelling that was entertaining and a really cool look at history. There were old artifacts and plaques with interesting information about the experience the prisoners would go through. Make me glad I wasn't a prisoner in those days! (Or at all)! read more

This is a classic in St. Augustine. Our tour guide Benny was unforgettable! He had such a great personality, very funny and interactive. He made the tour so much more fun and interactive than any others. The jail itself is a window into the past and shows how much things have changed. Enjoy your tour. read more

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I enjoyed this tour very much. Our host was Patrick, who was an excellent guide and knows his history very well. He was quite entertaining and had our group participating with him. The original structure was built in 1891 by Henry Flagler, and although it has been restored and renovated throughout the years, it looks very much the way it did when it opened over a century ago. The Old Jail Museum is recognized as one of the most haunted buildings in the country and is still shrouded in mystery and lore. After Dark, this 45-minute chilling experience allows visitors to participate in an actual paranormal investigation of the city's most haunted building. I did not want to do that tour. Buy tickets ahead of time. It was $16.99 per person so it's a bit on the spendy side but I thought it was worth it. I felt like I was actually there during the late 1800s. For the 1-Hour Guided Tour, tours run every 15 minutes starting at 9:00 AM with the last tour departing at 4:30 PM. The haunted tour starts at 12 midnight and ends at 2:30 am. Parking is available at Immaculate Conception Church, which is across the street from the jail. read more

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As a local, this is one of my favorite spots to bring friends and family when they visit St. Augustine! The Old Jail Museum is such a hidden gem--even after living here, it still gives me chills (in the best way). The actors are amazing at bringing history to life, and you can feel the stories in the walls. It's not just a building--it's a full experience. You get a glimpse into what life was really like behind bars in the late 1800s, and the tours are packed with both eerie facts and local lore. It's the perfect mix of spooky, educational, and entertaining. Whether you're a tourist or you've lived here forever, it's 100% worth checking out at least once. And if you're into paranormal stuff? Let's just say...you might not leave alone Highly recommend for locals looking to fall back in love with the city's weird and wonderful history. read more

Old Jail Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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Local Fun Before College Send-Off! On 08/02/25, my husband and I finally visited The Old Jail in St. Augustine--a place we've passed a hundred times but never explored. We wanted to do something different and fun with our daughter before she heads off to college... and this absolutely hit the mark! We booked a morning tour (10:15a.m.) and had no trouble with parking--free lot right next to the entrance Our guide, Aunt Viola, gave us a great 30-minute tour--she was super knowledgeable, engaging, and kept us entertained the whole time. Highly recommend asking for her if you go--just know she's still looking for a pardon Just a heads-up: about half the tour is outside, so if you're going during summer... dress light and hydrate--it's HOT out there Local tip: If you're a St. Johns County resident, ask about local discounts! Many of the tourist attractions around town, including The Old Jail and the Oldest Store Museum, offer reduced admission for locals--just bring your ID. Admission: Adults $15.99, Kids (ages 4-12) $9.99, under 4 are free. Combo tickets available if you're doing more than one attraction. Definitely one of those quirky, memorable outings that we'll be talking about for a while. If you're a local looking for something different--or just want a fun way to soak up some real St. Augustine history--we totally recommend it. Great for all ages, and the actors make it fun and engaging. The Old Jail Museum Open daily 9:00 AM - 4:30 PM 167 San Marco Ave, St. Augustine, FL Free on-site parking #StAugustine #OldJail #LocalFun #CollegeSendOff #HistoryWithACheatWave #FloridaHeatSurvival #AuntViolaNeedsAPardon read more

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We had a great time at the Old Jail Museum, learning about its history and exploring the jail's thoughtfully preserved exhibits. Our tour guide, Lizzie, made the experience even more engaging by bringing the stories to life with her humor making the tour especially entertaining. We are glad we visited - it was definitely well worth the time! read more

This museum is kind of a tourist trap. It's fun and interactive, but could be more informative. Our tour guide was talking really fast without diction and I couldn't understand what she was saying. It felt like she was just yelling at us a majority of the time. If you have young kids they might enjoy this, but otherwise I thought it was fairly mediocre compared to other experiences in the city. read more

The old jail is a must see when you're exploring st Augustine. The history behind it is incredible. The tour guide does a good job of explaining how things were back then showcasing how awful it was. You get to explore the kitchen, the cells, solitary confinement , the sheriffs quarters and more. It was amazing getting to see some old items and stories about some of the inmates. Definitely recommend if you're looking for an interesting history lesson! read more

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This tour was so unique and fact-filled, but most of all, fun! Viola was such a hoot! She did a great job! She really made it feel like we were "back in time" and was so engaging with our group. read more

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My family and I visited and LOVED IT. Our guide, Auntie V (Viola) made the entire tour so entertaining while also being informative. Would go back just for her! read more

Great tour from Benny! Budget a little time getting there since the tickers are untimed and you may have to wait a few minutes before going in read more

We got to tour the Old Jail at nighttime during the Ghosts and Gravestones trolly tour. It was really cool and the prisoner ghost (past prisoner) was a great actor and story teller. read more

Went there on 8/17/2025. I believe the tour guides name was Richard, maybe Patrick, I don't remember. He was very informative about the old jail, and was able to also speak to the Spanish speacking people in the tour. He put on a heck of a tour, explaining everything. I will go again next time I am in St. Augustine. read more

Interesting place. Our tour guide was yawning throughout and seemed rushed. It felt like the experience was over before it began. Perhaps that is for the best. This was something that the kids really wanted to see on this trip, and they were happy that we did it, so it still counts as a win! read more

My husband and I did not enjoy this tour, but we can see that we are greatly outnumbered. The tour guides have scripts that are meant to be funny but we didn't find the inhumane treatment if prisoners in that era to be humorous. read more

This has to be the most entertaining museum we have been to in St Augustine. Boss Benny, one of the inmates conducting our tour, was funny and had a wealth of information. This one is a must do. We got there at nine, and not many people there for the tour. By the time we finished our tour, the line was pretty long, so get there early! read more

Old Jail Museum - Boss Benny the best! - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Lizzie was amazing at the Old Jail! She made the history and experience so much fun and memorable! Would do it again.

Cool stories mixed with corny jokes. Nice history to building. Lil overpriced but most of the museums there were. read more

There's definitely so many things to do in St. Augustine. On one of our last trips, we visited the Old Jail Museum. It was a place we had never been before. The people giving the tour really tell you the story of back in the day in the Old Jail. They do it in a comical realistic way. It is actually pretty exciting and kept our interest. You see how tiny the jail cells are, you see where they hung criminals and see different history facts about back in the day criminals. We really enjoyed our visit here. This area where it is located is a complex with other area tours you can take advantage of. You can drive and park here and you can also take the trolley tour that stops here. Definitely a great place to visit when in St. Augustine. read more

the tour guide, benny, was hilarious and very entertaining. he is also a very good singer! he made the trip very worth going to!

After taking a small ride on the trolley, we got off at the Old Jail Museum. There are tours every 15 minutes and lasts about 45 minutes. It's guided by an inmate (not a real one, of course!) who filled us with an insight of what happened there in the 19th and 20th centuries. There are gallows in the back where we hear about the experiences of how inmates paid for their crimes if it resulted in the death penalty. The guide explained about a doctor recorded length of death times for one inmate by having him wiggling his fingers until he no longer could do so, which was 11 minutes. Eh, I'll pass on that one. The inside holds the cells for the people that did crimes such as robbery, shooting, and murder. There are various rooms where the sheriff and his family lived at while the other part consisted of the main cell block, where the inmates stayed in to pay for their crimes. You can even go in and see how tiny and close the inmates were to one another, which I'm sure wasn't pleasant back in the day. There is a gift shop out from the Old Jail and you can get food and drinks for a quick snack or meal. Our tour guide did a great job with going back into time and describing what it was actually like to be inside the jail. I suggest visiting and doing a tour if you're in the area. read more

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Lizzie was a great and lively presenter for the The Old Jail. Her insight and animated tour will have us coming again. Thank you Lizzie and Historic Tours of America. read more

We visited the Old Jail at night on the Haunted Trolley Tour. I'm a skeptic, but one of my kids felt paranormal activity. It is an interesting piece of history, and worth the visit to learn something a little different about St Augustine history. read more

Fantastic Birdie was our tour guide and she was informative and entertaining The actual jail is neat, and they have it staged in an interesting way The guides and those wandering around outside make this whole tour. read more

Old Jail Museum - Birdie and her bird cage - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

Benny from Brooklyn was the Bomb! Very interesting tour, Benny made it fun. He was knowledgeable, smooth and witty. read more

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So, I showed up on the trolley, jumped off and quickly walked up to the white outlined box in front of the jail with a group that was already slated to do the tour. Right then. The very enlightening and disgusting details shared of what took place during the time this jail was used are pretty shocking. I am not about an easy sentence, but the conditions were truly deadly. You really didn't have a chance to get out alive... yuck! Well, after all the stories and walking in and through the small jail that was supposed to house all of 72 and learning there were MANY MANY more....and how they continued to use it until 1953 - pretty much in the same manner from its early days... I can just say you'll never find me in one! Our inmate, Patrick, was very convincing, animated and entertaining. Even educational. I think all kids should go through this tour. Learn a little something and maybe scare 'em a little.... read more

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Enjoyed the tour and our guide Louie was great. Amazing to see our history in its exact form it was extremely interesting read more

His was one of our favorite places in St. Augustine. The history was very neat to learn but our guide is what made it the best. He was very interactive with our 11 year old which made him interested. Highly recommend! read more

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The Old Jail is a must-see attraction for those interested in the history of St. Augustine. The tour took a little less than an hour and kept even our six year-old interested. We were able to see where prisoners lived, worked, and even where some were executed. The tour guide (a prisoner) did an excellent job of entertaining and educating (without being too specific with kids around). Definitely give this place a visit! read more

Old Jail Museum - Where the tour begins - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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It was an amazing tour we got it with a package along with the store and trolly was a bit cautious because of price but it's well worth it! I had louie and he was great eveyone is in character while still being very informative read more

We went to the Old Jail Museum as part of the Ghosts & Gravestones Tour in St. Augustine and was very impressed with our experience there. The performer who played the dead jail inmate was outstanding and brought a creepiness to an already creepy attraction. Walking inside, you walk into another period in American history, specifically with how people were incarcerated for crimes ranging from robbery to murder. As you made your past the various cells, including the main cell block, it's hard to imagine spending days let alone years, in such close quarters with other inmates. The museum doesn't have to do much to sell the fact that this place was not one you wanted to visit if you could help it back in the day. While it could be easy to describe the museum as gimmicky due to the performers and how they describe the experiences when you go at night, I don't see it that way. Being that this was a jail for many decades in St. Augustine, you can feel the energy and vibes of this place. I won't go as far as to say spirits, but when you have a jail that housed many that ended up dying there, as well as on the gallows in the back of the property, you don't have to go far to feel unsettled by the place. Well worth the money we spent on touring the jail as part of the larger one we took. read more

I would not recommend this place! I would've given it a zero star if I could have! Such a disgrace in how the tour guides display this part of American history! They made a mockery, made jokes and were extremely disrespectful in how they made fun of such a horrific period for a specific group of "Americans". I went to the Pearl Harbor tour and it was with honor and grace and they even had moments of silence in some areas out of respect to the "victims" of that attack on America. Slaves and "black Americans" were attacked and ill treated. It wasn't anything amusing about it. read more

It all started meeting our guide Ruth, she was friendly and personable and funny right off the bat! She was incredible through the tour & made you feel like you were really in that time, and it was overall a great experience. She did an amazing job of explaining and helping you imagine what really happened back then. Overall 10 out of 10 definitely recommend. read more

Fantastic! Benny was truly amazing! He's a friendly and knowledgeable gentleman who gives you an experience which makes you feel as though you're getting your money's worth. The jail has a very interesting and sordid history. It should definitely be on your "must see" list when visiting St. Augustine. *Side note: Potter's Wax Museum has a figure of the only photographed hanging. read more

Old Jail Museum - Landmarks & Historical Buildings Near Me - St. Augustine, Florida

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