Old Jail Museum
An 1871 county jail where leaders of the Molly Maguires mining group were hanged. A legendary handprint, said to be impossible to erase, remains on one of its walls.
This stone jail was in use from 1871 to 1995. It is best known for the 1877 execution of members of the Molly Maguires, a secret society of Irish-American miners. One of the condemned men is said to have left a handprint on a cell wall that survived repeated repainting, becoming the famous 'ghost handprint'. Tours are led by a guide and cover the dungeon, cells and a reconstructed gallows. A tour takes about 45 minutes. The museum is usually open daily from May to October during peak season. Tickets cost about US$15, and a night tour is offered in autumn. It is a 10-minute uphill walk from the Old Town along Broadway.
Opening hours
Approx. May–Oct, 12:00–16:30 (guided visits)
Nearby sights
- Mauch Chunk Museum & Cultural Center
- Mauch Chunk Opera House
- Jim Thorpe Historic District & Race Street
- Switchback Trail & Mount Pisgah
- St. Mark's Episcopal Church
- Asa Packer Mansion
- Harry Packer Mansion
- Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway