Old Wilkes County Jail - Wilkesboro, North Carolina
N 36° 08.962 W 081° 09.130
17S E 486311 N 4000526
The Old Wilkes County Jail's most famous prisoner was Tom Dula who was housed here while waiting trial for the the murder of Laura Foster.
Waymark Code: WMAM7J
Location: North Carolina, United States
Date Posted: 01/28/2011
Views: 3
The Old Wilkes Jail was constructed in 1859 and opened as jail in 1860. The history of its usage goes back to the War Between the States when it was used to house Confederate provisions as well as union prisoners. After the war, Tom Dula (of the famous ballad "Hang Down Your Head Tom Dooley") was incarcerated here until the change of venue was obtained by his defense attorney, former Governor Zebulon Vance. Another famous inmate was that of North Carolina's famous escape artist, "Otto Wood". The building was restored to its original state using as much of the original materials as possible. Access to the cells are through the original iron and wood doors. The old Wilkes County jail is one of the best preserved examples of nineteenth century penal architecture in North Carolina. Of particular note is the survival of its primitive security, including the front door which contains nails an inch apart so that if a prisoner got hold of an object that he could not saw his way out of the building. The museum is operated by Old Wilkes, Inc. and is open, free of charge, Monday through Friday and on weekends by appointment.
Source/Credit: (
visit link)
Street address:
203 North Bridge Street
Wilkesboro, NC United States
28697
County / Borough / Parish: Wilkes County
Year listed: 1971
Historic (Areas of) Significance: Event, Architecture, Engineering
Periods of significance: 1850-1874
Historic function: Government, Correctional Facility
Current function: Museum
Privately owned?: no
Primary Web Site: [Web Link]
Secondary Website 1: [Web Link]
Season start / Season finish: Not listed
Hours of operation: Not listed
Secondary Website 2: Not listed
National Historic Landmark Link: Not listed
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Visit Instructions:
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