Walk Through the 1894 Jail a Famous Denver Architect Designed

Most county jails out on the plains were plain boxes. The one in Cheyenne Wells is not. Finished in 1894, it has heavy brick walls, narrow windows, an arched doorway, and a two-story octagonal tower at one corner that gives it the look of a small fortress.

There’s a reason it stands out. The county hired Robert S. Roeschlaub, a Denver architect with a real reputation. He went on to become Colorado’s first licensed architect, and his other work includes the Central City Opera House and Trinity United Methodist Church in Denver. Seeing his hand on a county jail this far east is part of what makes the building worth a look. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The jail held prisoners for decades and now serves as the Old Jail Museum, cared for by the Eastern Colorado Historical Society. You can walk through the old cells and see how a frontier lockup actually worked.

One thing to plan for: the museum keeps seasonal hours, mostly in summer, and is best visited by appointment. So this is a call-ahead stop, not a drop-in. A quick call lines up someone to let you in and show you around.

For current hours and to set up a visit, check the History Colorado location page above.