Michaela

When you think of historical sites and monuments, you most likely think of The Statue of Liberty,Thomas Jefferson's home,the Monticello,the Black Angel,or the Lincolin memorial.But my speech is about a historical site in Council Bluffs, Iowa, The Squirrel Cage Jail.

The first time I heard about the Squirrel Cage Jail, I thought of squirrels! Now that seems silly to me now that I know what the Squirrel Cage Jail is. The idea was first patented in 1881 by William Brown,and Benjamin Haugh.The new jail would cost taxpayers not quite $30,000 dollars! It was built by the Wickham Brothers, Mr.J.MCarter, Eckel,and Mann.On September 11,1885 Council Bluffs historical site,the Squirrel Cage Jail,was opened! It was a three-story"lazy susan",with each level divided into 10 pie shaped cells!!!The most important part is the core. It consists of of a three story metal drum, which is 28 feet high,and 24 feet in diameter.The jailer could rotate the entire unit with just a hand crank! The new jail would hold up to 63 prisoners! Each cell had a privy seat,for sanitary comfort,i f not privacy. Sometimes the prisoners flushed wads of paper to make trouble for the jailer. Some of the prisoners being transfered were put in jail because of forgery,robberies,larceny,and,murder. Forgery is when someone makes out a false check,and larceny is stealing someone's personel property. (I think that's horrible!) What's worse is that some of the prisoners tried to kill themselves!!!! Those people tried to hang themselves,or cut themselves so badly that they would bleed to death! One of the reasons they hurt themselves is, if they got injured badly enough they get out of jail,to go to the hospital. But people in jail who do this get sent to the Oakdale facility for mental evaluation.

The Squirrel Cage Jail was built in a cylender shape,the purpose of that is so the jailer could keep an eye on all of his prisoners,with constant rotation.There were not many other rotary jails at that time.The drawback to a rotary jail is if there was a fire,the prisoners wouldn't be able to get out in time.So eventualy the rotary jails had to be closed because it wouldn't be safe.The Squirrel Cage Jail has showed us that even though they're prisoners, the jails still have to be safe for them.The idea of the cylinder jail was a great idea,but maybe people in the future can make it safer.The Squirrel Cage Jail was closed in1969 and is now a museum.It is 115 years old and the only three-story revolving jail ever built!!!!I think it is a great American landmark because there were only 18 built! But now only 3 are still standing!!! There aren't any more squirrel cage jails that are being used. They are now museums that let people know what jails were like back then.

The Squirrel Cage Jail is a great American landmark because what other jail rotates?What other jail allows minimum contact with the prisoner?None other than Council Bluff's Squirrel Cage Jail!