Old Allegheny County Jail, Pittsburgh

The Old Allegheny County Jail was built between 1884 and 1886 and designed by architect Henry Hobson Richardson. It is considered one of the finest examples of Romanesque Revival architecture in the United States, with thick stone walls, rounded arches, and fortress-like towers. The jail and courthouse complex was later recognized as a National Historic Landmark in 1976.

One of the most recognizable features is the enclosed “Bridge of Sighs”, which crosses above Ross Street and links the jail to the courthouse. Inspired by the famous Venetian bridge of the same name, it allowed prisoners to move between courtrooms and cells without entering the street. Small windows line the passageway, adding to the sense of isolation that once defined the journey between sentencing and confinement.

The jail remained in operation for more than a century, closing in 1995. Over the years, it held a number of notable inmates, including anarchist Alexander Berkman, who awaited trial here after the attempted assassination of industrialist Henry Clay Frick. Another famous chapter involved brothers Jack and Ed Biddle, whose escape in 1902, with help from the warden’s wife, became one of Pittsburgh’s most notorious prison stories.

Today, much of the former jail serves as the Family Division of the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas, while a preserved section operates as the Old Allegheny County Jail Museum. Visitors can explore original cell blocks, iron-barred doors, and narrow corridors that reveal what incarceration looked like in the late 19th century. Entry requires passing through courthouse security, and photography is not permitted inside.