The Pottawatomie County Jail, better known as the Squirrel Cage Jail, was built in 1885 and housed maximum security prisoners until its closure in 1969. This innovative, three-story rotary jail was designed for reduced contact between guards and inmates. Today, the county's historical society runs it as a museum.
The full documentary Historic Buildings of Iowa: Council Bluffs, will be available on the PBS app starting Nov. 26, 2024.
