Old Jail Museum

We absolutely loved our tour at the Old Jail, and a big reason was our guide Lizzie! From the moment the tour began, she brought the history to life with energy, personality and genuine storytelling. She kept everyone engaged, made the tough history meaningful without being dull, and even added some fun moments that had the whole group laughing. Visitors of all ages were captivated by her explanations and the way she made the experience feel personal and immersive. If you get Lizzie as your guide — you’re in for an unforgettable old jail visit in St. Augustine! 🍂🔒✨

A Unique and Entertaining Step Back in Time! My family and I had a fantastic visit to the Old Jail Museum in St. Augustine, and it was one of the highlights of our trip! What makes this place so special is its unique history and clever disguise. The jail was built in 1891 and was financed by the famous industrialist Henry Flagler. He didn't want an ugly prison scaring away tourists and investors for his nearby Hotel Ponce de Leon, so he had it designed to look like a charming Romanesque Revival-style house. From the outside, you'd never guess it was a working jail for over 60 years. Here's what we loved most: · Engaging & Knowledgeable Guides: The tour is brought to life by fantastic costumed actors who play the sheriff and inmates. Our guide was hilarious, interactive (they even "booked" a volunteer as an inmate!), and full of fascinating—and sometimes chilling—stories about the prisoners and the sheriff's family who lived right there in the building. · Authentic Glimpse into History: Walking through the original cells, including the maximum-security and women's sections, gives you a real sense of what prison life was like over a century ago. Seeing the sheriff's family quarters right across the hall was a particularly surprising detail. · Perfect Length for Families: The guided tour lasts about 30 minutes, which is ideal for keeping everyone's attention. It's educational but never feels like a lecture. · Great Value & Location: It's very reasonably priced, and the location at 167 San Marco Avenue is easy to get to with free on-site parking. It's also right in the "Old Town" complex with other attractions, making it easy to plan a full day. A quick tip for visitors: Tours run every 15-20 minutes from opening until late afternoon, so you can usually join one without a long wait. Overall, this isn't just a museum—it's an entertaining and immersive experience that both adults and kids will enjoy. We left smiling, having learned a lot about St. Augustine's unique past in the most memorable way possible. Don't miss it!

We had so much fun on our tour. Our guide Viola was so much fun! She was so informative and entertaining, and answered all of our questions. We had never done the daytime tour before just the ghost and gravestones part and I was glad to see a family friendly version to learn about the history.

Great time. I believe our inmate was Benne from Brooklyn, im bad at remembering names. Great experience and he did a great job. Lots of jokes and he was very interactive he explained a lot of the history.

I believe a great museum tour starts with an awesome guide and I am giving 5 stars because Cornelius was not only a fantastic guide, he was witty funny and informative. The jails history was interesting to hear about and the tour is partially guided then towards the end you can wander around on your own. It is a bit warm in some of the rooms so I suggest dressing for that. Also go early to beat the crowds.

We had an absolutely amazing time at the Old Jail in St. Augustine, FL! The experience was not only fun but also deeply emotional and memorable. Lizzie is truly on another level—she’s a master at bringing history to life through storytelling and making you feel like you’re part of the story yourself. Thank you so much for everything. We loved every moment and truly love this place.

We absolutely loved our tour at the Old Jail, and a huge part of that was our incredible guide, Lizzie! From the very beginning, she brought the history to life with so much energy, personality, and engaging storytelling. You could really feel her passion for the place. She went above and beyond to make the experience extra special when I mentioned it was my fiancée’s birthday — she surprised her with a birthday cookie and even led everyone in singing Happy Birthday. That personal touch meant a lot to us. Lizzie keeps everyone involved throughout the tour, which made it so much fun. I even got put in a cage and became a “jail bird” 😂 — definitely a moment we won’t forget! If you’re lucky enough to get Lizzie as your guide, you’re guaranteed an unforgettable visit to the Old Jail in St. Augustine. Thank you, Lizzie, for such an amazing experience!

I've been here twice before so this would be my third time. Our tour guide was so much fun as she explained all the details with expression. You have to make it a point to also go inside and tour the extra stuff. The gift shop had so much to choose from as far as souvenirs to buy. The staff all over the place was nice. There is a restroom that talks to you while you're using it. That was interesting. Make sure you bring quarters with you so that you can play the machines inside the museum. There is plenty of parking.

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

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)!

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.

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.

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

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!

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.

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

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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.

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!

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

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.

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

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

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.

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!

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.

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.

The Old Jail Museum tour was fantastic! Our tour guide was Lydia, a "prisoner" of the jail. She was very informative, and my husband and I felt we learned a lot about this part of St. Augustine history. Lydia was very engaging with the young people in the group, as well as calling on numerous individuals to experience different parts of the jail. This tour is must to have on your to-do list when visiting St. Augustine.

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.

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.

This was a great tour and our guide was very good. She answered everyone's questions well and we really enjoyed the experience.

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....

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!

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.

We went on this tour while visiting St. Augustine. We got our tickets at a discounted rate through the hop on hop off trolly tour. This is really fun. The deputy and inmates have lots of fun with the guests including them in the script and jokes. Their story is a little corny, however the deputy and inmates did an amazing job showing you how unpleasant jail life would be. If you are visiting historic St. Augustine make this a stop you will have lots of fun and leave saying you never want to go to jail ever again.

The Old Jail was quite the experience! Our tour guide, Patrick, was outstanding with his presentation of the history and happenings that occurred at the Old Jail. He made the tour! This was our first time to visit and I highly recommend this tour. The history and structure of the building was eye opening.

Mable did a great tour and was so much fun. If you really enjoy learning about the past I would absolutely recommend this tour.

Edith was such a treat ! She was our inmate tour guide , absolutely loved her . My boyfriend and I enjoyed this tour a lot . Definitely worth seeing if you're in town !

Boss Benny is fantastic!! Great tour, Benny was very knowledgeable about the jail and jail life. We really enjoyed talking to Benny after the tour. Highly recommended! Stay safe out there Benny !

I come down to St Augustine a few times per year to visit family, and this time we decided to check out the jail. Although it's a small place, our tour didn't feel too short as it was packed with a great mix of interesting history and jokes to keep it light. Boss Benny made it a really fun experience for us! Would definitely recommend this to others.

Brooklyn Benny was super entertaining during our tour. My girlfriend and I were lucky enough to be the only 2 people on our tour (the next group was huge so I don't know how we got so lucky), so we got a very personalized experience. His wealth of knowledge and sense of humor were on point. Highly recommend! Tip: do the Ghost & Gravestones tour at night and you get to go back to the jail for a haunted tour!

This was an excellent tour! After our trolly tour we had tickets to tour the old Jail Museum. We stood outside the jailhouse waiting for the tour to start. A man dressed up like a sheriff came and took everyone's tickets. Our tour guide was amazing. He was dressed like a jailbird and talked like one too. He really played the part well. He made the tour so entertaining and informative. He took us all around the outside of the jailhouse to the back and showed us where the gallows were and the big hanging tree. Then he took us inside the jail. He made all the women get into a jail cell and closed the door which was quite funny. As we toured the jailhouse he told some very interesting stories. He kept everyone's interest. Even the little kids were having a fun time. This is an excellent tour for all ages. FYI There are stairs to climb on this tour.

Visited the Old Jail while sightseeing in St Augustine. The mail is rich in history. We especially loved the crime artifacts throughout the mail. Our guide Bobalew was fantastic.

**ACTUAL JAIL NOT A REPLICA** As our (actual) freedoms have been restricted, limited and in some states taken away...I wasn't really feeling the whole visit a JAIL on my vacation from being restricted. Any other time I would have enjoyed this interesting experience but I was very uneasy and just couldn't get comfortable. We've been locked up at home ( covid planned-demic)and this is just too soon. The gallows, the cages... oh goodness, so sad and cruel However, for historical value -and education- it's good because you're learning in an immersive setting. The guide, Jack was very good and funny. He actually knows a lot so ask him anything. I'm actually glad I did it. A little harsh for certain younger children but still important to know. If you're afraid of crowds just avoid it because even though they make you wear a mask you'll be rubbing elbows with the group. There's not any room for any distancing ok? Now you know!

It was nice doing a little tourist stuff at the back end of a successful visit to this area. Most of this was done driving through the area; I couldn't ask for a better tourist guide; this place was pretty cool as a photo showing some of the history of this community. Everybody here is very welcoming that encountered, Well after being stuck in the house for close to a year because of the pandemic, people should be dancing in the streets have some resemblance of life back. Since I'll be working on a project in this area for a while, I can't wait to come back here to check on my project and spend a little more time with my tourist guide and the lovely people in this community. In short, do I recommend this place? Absolutely 100%, I wanted to come here for the past six months and had some resistance, but I'm sure glad I came this time

Our guide Benny at the Old Jail Museum was great! Super funny, while being very informative. Would definitely come again and highly recommend!

So upset to hear that our favorite tour guide Bobalew is no longer doing the Old Jail tours. A year ago, two days after moving to Florida from Arizona, after barely unpacking our boxes and getting settled we went to St Augustine. The very first thing we went out and did here in Florida was the Old Jail Tour with Bobalew, He and his character will always be a core memory and an integral part of our first experiences here. He was engaging, funny, educating, and you can tell he loved what he did. Being now locals, we go to the old town area often. We would have been constant returning customers to the Old Jail if they didn't let him go. Whatever the disagreement, Bobalew belongs in that role, he was meant to give people the kind of memorable experience that he was able to give me and my family through his hilarious character. I hope the management is able to realize the value of the person they lost. Hire him back! He's a staple of that place now, he deserves whatever he asks for and substantially more, and probably an apology or three! +5 stars for our original experience with Bobalew at the Old Jail. Let him back, I'll give you back the 5.

My favorite place to take out of town guests when in Saint Augustine. Everyone we've gone here we've had a great time with professional officers of the law showing us the jail. Today it was Mr Slaughter. We've been here at least 5 times in the last 10 years and Mr Slaughter made the tour as enjoyable as the first. This is a must do if in Saint Augustine for a short time. I promise iit will be worth the few dollars you pay to enter. The jail was built by the same company who built Alcatraz but is much smaller in size. The jail has a front porch on the front which in the old days made people think it was a hotel and not a jail. Once inside, you will know what it really was used for. Many fun photo opportunities for kids to college age friends to life long friends. Great history and educational too. A Saint Augustine must do. Owned by the Trolley company and available as part of a money saving package deal with the trolley.

Cornelius was a great tour guide- he was funny and very knowledgeable. He made our experience a 10/10. We loved visiting and learning about the Old Jail.

Enjoyed our experience here. We decided to visit on our second day in St. Augustine. All "jail inmates" were amazing. They were entertaining, yet professional, and very friendly. Bucky and Wiley were the BEST ever!!! Our favorite part was the interactive play outside the building with our children. This was a fun time for sure. The inside of the jail was neat to see as well. We didn't like having to put face masks on in order to visit, but decided that we would do it. It caused us some difficulty with not breathing so well in the heat, but we made it through ok. We'll definitely visit again, but will wait until the face mask rule is gone. Thank you for having us!