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- Muscatine County Historic Jail
Muscatine County Historic Jail
The overall objective of this project is to rehabilitate, preserve, and put into use the Old Muscatine County Jail which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The jail is a significant part of Muscatine County’s history. Built in 1856-57, it is the only remaining example of Greek Revival government architecture in Muscatine.
In 2017 the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Commission (MCHPC) hired Doug Steinmetz, AIA, to complete a Rehabilitation and Adaptive Use study funded by a CLG Grant. Steinmetz completed a facility assessment and developed recommendations for a three-phase project plan. Phase I involved stabilizing the structure and bringing it up to code. This work was completed with funding provided by Muscatine County.
- History of Historic Jail
- Friends of Historic Muscatine County Jail
- Planned Development of the Historic Jail
- Museum Concept
The Muscatine County Jail building constructed in 1856-57 included a sheriff’s residence and office in addition to the jail cells. This building was initially nominated and placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1974 because it was Muscatine's only representative of the Greek Revival or Federal style of architecture. The Historic Jail also qualifies to be listed because its construction date falls into Muscatine's Early Settlement historic context.
Contractors for the jail project were Hine and Mulford. They built it for an estimated $12,500. There has been little alteration to the exterior of the building since it was constructed. The building continued to function as the primary county penal facility until residents voted to approve building a new facility in 1907. At that time, it appears the old jail was reused as a heating plant for the courthouse, with the boiler located in the basement. A brick-lined tunnel runs from the old jail, under Fourth Street, to the county courthouse. The tunnel provided a passage for steam pipes to run from the boiler at the old jail to the newly constructed courthouse. The courthouse continues to receive its heat and cooling from this location although the source has been switched to geothermal with the controls and mechanical equipment located in the Historic Jail basement.
The two-story (south) portion of the Historic Jail, facing 4th Street, was originally used as the Sheriff's office and residence. Since 1907, that portion of the building has been used for storage but is currently empty. The one-story rear (north) portion of the building originally housed the jail cells but these have since been removed. Until recently, the back portion was utilized as County Maintenance storage and repair, and for related office space. Currently this space is empty pending renovation into the Muscatine County Historic Preservation Meeting and Conference Center.
A group called the Friends of Historic Muscatine County Jail, a charitable 501c3 organization under the Community Foundation of Greater Muscatine, is being established to guide and support the process of getting the 1856-57 jail restored and operational as the Muscatine County Historic Museum-Archives and Community Center. One function of the Friends Group is fund raising to provide capital for the physical restoration of the building. Money for local matching funds to facilitate potential grants to support the work will also be a primary objective.
The Friends Group will initially develop parameters for collection, storage and display of donated artifacts and other historic items related to the history of Muscatine County. Members of the public with an interest in Muscatine County history are being solicited to serve along side of selected members from the County Historic Preservation Commission.
Muscatine County residents have approached members of the Commission, seeking a safe and secure environment for historic documents, including letters, photographs and other artifacts of Muscatine County history. Many indicated they would be happy to donate such items if a safe and secure environment existed. Following an extensive search for a secure dry location that would have temperature control, and with advice from historic architects with the State Preservation Commission, members decided the Historic Jail would best provide that location. This will fill a long unmet need so that many important pieces of our history are not discarded and can be viewed by future generations.
The initial plan is for the main floor of the two-story portion to display the history of the development of Muscatine County from early settlement to present times. This could include exhibits which feature the individual roles and impacts of rivers, railroads, agriculture, industry, education and specific people. The plan is to have display cases, floor and wall mounted, as well as historical information in a time-line format. It is anticipated that the Museum will be open to the public on weekends or two days per week. It could also be open for special occasions, as for small school groups or by appointment. The second floor would be utilized for archiving and potentially for selective research related to Muscatine County.
Muscatine County's recently constructed County Maintenance Facility has freed up the rear portion of the building for potential development as part of the Historic Jail Museum-Archives and Community Center. As such, there would be room to accommodate meetings of local groups as well as for meetings of the County Historic Preservation Commission. It is also possible for redevelopment of a representative portion of the original jail cells to give visitors a feel for historic conditions of the latter half of the 19th century.
Muscatine County residents have approached members of the Commission, seeking a safe and secure environment for historic documents, including letters, photographs and other artifacts of Muscatine County history. Many indicated they would be happy to donate such items if a safe and secure environment existed. Following an extensive search for a secure dry location that would have temperature control, and with advice from historic architects with the State Preservation Commission, members decided the Historic Jail would best provide that location. This will fill a long unmet need so that many important pieces of our history are not discarded and can be viewed by future generations.
The initial plan is for the main floor of the two-story portion to display the history of the development of Muscatine County from early settlement to present times. This could include exhibits which feature the individual roles and impacts of rivers, railroads, agriculture, industry, education and specific people. The plan is to have display cases, floor and wall mounted, as well as historical information in a time-line format. It is anticipated that the Museum will be open to the public on weekends or two days per week. It could also be open for special occasions, as for small school groups or by appointment. The second floor would be utilized for archiving and potentially for selective research related to Muscatine County.