Squirrel Cage Jail Museum (Pottawattamie County Jail)

Known today as the Squirrel Cage Jail Museum, this former county jail is one of the most unique attractions in Iowa. In the 1880s, eighteen jails with rotating cages containing pie-shaped holding cells were erected around the country, including six in Iowa. The cages were made entirely of steel, had only one door, and were rotated by a hand crank. The Squirrel Cage Jail, which is the largest of the eighteen that were built, is the only one with a three-level cage. The jail's nickname was apparently inspired by its resemblance to an animal cage and the city's Black squirrels. The purpose of the jails was to increase security and cut operating expenses by employing just one jailer who could control each cell individually. However, the design was plagued with problems, including malfunctions that could make them dangerous to prisoners. Only a few of the rotating jails are still in existence, and this one is a museum operated by the Historical Society of Pottawattamie County. The building is also listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The idea of rotating cage jails originated with Indianapolis's William H. Brown and Benjamin F. Haugh. While the design seemed like a good idea to support efficiency and control, the crank systems often failed. In the Squirrel Cage Jail, the 45-ton cage rested on a three-foot square base that shifted regularly, causing the gears to jam. As a result, prisoners could be trapped for long periods of time without food or water. Worse yet, prisoner arms and legs could easily be caught, leading to broken limbs when the cage rotated. In desperation to get out of their cells, prisoners sometimes resorted to sticking their limbs out on purpose so they would be taken to the infirmary. Some prisoners even died from the injuries that occurred while the cell was rotating. In short, the physical and psychological toll of cage jails was high. Another problem was that prisoners could not be easily separated, meaning that low-level offenders were imprisoned close to individuals convicted of serious crimes. Other problems included issues with sanitation and winter heating.

The Squirrel Cage Jail operated until it was condemned by the county in 1969. The building was under threat of demolition, but the Historical Society of Pottawatomie County acquired the building and later converted it to a museum. Some of the cells contain mattresses, clothing and other items to give visitors a sense as to what the cells may have looked like when the jail was in operation. The building also had offices, a kitchen, and women's quarters. The other two remaining rotating jails are a one-story building in Gallatin, Missouri, and a two-story jail in Crawfordsville, Indiana.

Grundhauser, Eric. "Pottawattamie Squirrel Cage Jail." Atlas Obscura. Accessed February 9, 2022. https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/pottawattamie-squirrel-cage-jail.

Hilligus, Richard E. "Pottawattamie County Jail." National Park Service - National Register of Historic Places Nomination Form. March 16, 1972. https://npgallery.nps.gov/GetAsset/1e6af79b-3c74-465f-8aa7-471bd7450227.

"Squirrel Cage Jail." Roadside America. Accessed February 8, 2022. https://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/12160.

"Squirrel Cage Jail Museum." Historical Society of Pottawattamie County. Accessed February 9, 2022. https://www.thehistoricalsociety.org/museums/squirrel-cage-jail-1.html.