Old Stone Jail

Old Stone Jail | Historic prison tours in Honesdale

Old Stone Jail in Honesdale, PA opens its heavy metal doors during the summer and fall to offer guided tours of one of Wayne County’s most compelling historic buildings. Constructed in 1859, the stone jail housed prisoners until 1935 and remains largely intact. Built almost entirely of rough stone, the structure’s stark interior reflects the realities of 19th-century incarceration. Men, women and even children once endured its small 9-by-12-foot cells.

Volunteer guides lead visitors through the Sheriff’s office and original jail cells, sharing well-researched stories drawn from historic newspaper accounts. Tours recount jailbreaks, hangings and even the birth of a baby within the jail’s walls. Guests can stand behind an original riveted cell door that has remained in place for more than a century. Special presentations by the “Old Stone Jail Players” bring dramatic storytelling to the experience with tales of notorious local prisoners.

Seasonal tours and private group visits are available through the Wayne County Historical Society.

Old Stone Jail in Honesdale preserves Wayne County’s 19th-century criminal justice history through immersive seasonal tours.