First State Prison in Illinois
Posted by: 
BruceS
N 38° 53.479 W 090° 11.372
15S E 743756 N 4308471
Historical marker for first prison in state located in Alton
Waymark Code: WM927
Location: Illinois, United States
Date Posted: 03/16/2006
Views: 118
Ruins of first state prison in Illinois. Built in 1830-31.
Unsanitary conditions aroused persistent criticism from Dorothea Dix, pioneer in
prison reform. All inmates were transferred to Joliet prior to 1860. During the
Civil War many confederate prisoners were incarcerated here and deaths averaged
six to ten a day.
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