rotary jail museum and tannenbaum cultural center

This is a historic jail and the kids love being able to go into an actual jail cell - great photo opportunity!

Very interesting. Lots of history. Good tour. Horror stories of inmates getting their limbs caught while jail was rotating.

This was a fabulous attraction. The jail and it's history are, in themselves, interesting. The guide was AWESOME; well-informed and VERY interesting.

We have toured the Rotary Jail a few times and each time found it to be very interesting and a really interesting hands on experience! Even our young daughter enjoyed the tours.

So glad the community has kept this piece of history. Very interesting. Great example of how things have changed

What a wonderful and unique piece of history here in the town of Crawfordsville. You get to wonder all over the building and if you are lucky enough to get a guided tour from a local historian is is priceless. The also have a room for displays that changes all year long.

Had a nice tour of this very unique jail. The young lady who did our tour was enjoyable and explained things very well. Very neat to see how this rotary jail was turned by hand to put more people into the jail cells. Lots of history here, I strongly suggest you take a little time to check it out.

I wish I could remember our tour guides name because he was great. Definitely a unique piece of history that one doesn't find very often. If you are in law enforcement you need to check this out for sure. Low cost for an hour of your time to hear about this unusual jail.

While the tour is small and doesn't take long the guide was very well versed on the facts and history. Not a good tour for someone with limited mobility.

Bird cage jail that works! This is a cool step into the past. The rotary jail is fascinating and to see it turn with little effort. As a biker it was entertaining to see who they tote as famous people who stayed there.

Not only was the Rotary Jail a history exhibit, the museum has rotating exhibits. The most recent one is a '20s' display of women's (great flapper dresses) and men's clothing, hats, jewelry, shoes, photos, and information about each one. Great displays of 1920s history.

Very unique. The only working rotary jail in the US. You can spend 1/2 hour or so. It's not an all day tour. Well worth the time

We have been to the Old Jail Museum on numerous occasions as it is a favorite of my children! I always try to take new friends or family visitors there as one of my favorite things to do to show off Crawfordsville. It never fails to hold them captive. The kids always like pretending to be the jailer and the jailed. They even get to help turn the rotary cells making it more fun. This is a sight not to miss when in crawfordsville!

Sometimes . . . having an automobile break down in rural Indiana isn't always a bad thing. Killing (our theme) time for two days I tried to eake out the best this city had to offer. Gosh - the Rotary Jail. . Rotarians who miss a meeting? I thought not. Open on Wed thru Sat, I was anxious to find out; What could this marvelous Victorian brick building featuring gingerbread dormers and soffits hold. Prisoners, it turns out.Four (4) dollars for admission included a docent led overview of the jailers responsibilities and quarters. I chose to skip part one and go directly to jail. There the lovely KATHY MALONE, all five feet of her demonstrated the knack of physically torking a set very manly gears with a crowbar-like device. Opening the jail's inner door one views a bird cage like contraption with 12 double decker jail cells... think a two layer cake - 6 pieces. The keeper-of-persons cranks the entire set of cells in a circle until the prisoner selected to tell-it-to-the-judge broaches the exit port and is permitted to exit (or reverse, enter) his cell.The entire process is not just a jail, but the culmination of what America was thinking at the time of the Columbian Exposition in Chicago, 1893,100 miles to the north.. American steel, perfect red bricks, avant guarde architecture incorporating the future's penal management techniques - or so they envisioned. ALL in one building. My Guide slipped me not only into a cell for a "feel" of what it could have been like but to appreciate that the incarcerated possibly had the opportunity to peer out six windows on a busy rotating weekday. Field corn, no doubt the scene most viewed. For the prurient - among us, yes the women were segregated in a single cell out of the wheel as were the truly bad actors, solitary for them. All aspects of toilet action are covered for your four bucks. TMI.Don't forget to inquire about the two hangings conducted here, No spoiler alert needed.Noteworthy: Ms. Malone (who wondered if her name would be included in my review) asked if I wanted to turn the rotary cells. I, @ six feet, attempted and failed. She displayed her biceps - developed over the past 4 years - as good as the trip off the Interstate. Saying more: Free parking on the grounds or across the street - easy. The structure needs our help - it was saved from the wrecking ball - by days -thru a generous grant from a local philanthropist.Leave your car where it is and walk kitty corner ~ one block to the court house, if not for the Civil War statue then just to view the fantastic WALNUT trim around the doors on the first floor. Other floors devoid of workman's pride or they just ran out of money.Depart the court house and walk - again - Southwest,across the street to the Mom and Pop restaurant featuring 1960 prices for really good fare. Meatloaf, tell 'em I sent you.