Tour Michigan's First Prison

Katie got the idea to do this prison tour and, considering I work in the jail and half my students get transferred to prison, maybe I should know a few things about it (even if they are going to a different one). Below is all the information you might need.

Call me with any questions; Jim S, 248 247 4553

(I have no idea how big the tours are or how full this one is, but Katie just signed up yesterday, so there is still probably plenty of room, maybe.)

100 Armory Court #107 ■ Jackson, MI 49202 ■ Phone: 517-817-8960 ■

Email: jacksonjourneysLLC@comcast.net

Ask About Jackson Journeys Combination Tours with Other Jackson Exciting Sites

Thank you for your interest in the Historic Prison Tours of Jackson. Your tour group is scheduled for 2013 starting at 10:00 Am

and lasts until 3:00pm

Tour Costs: $43 per person and must be paid prior to arrival. Credit cards accepted with $1.25 processing fee or

please make checks payable to Jackson Journeys, LLC. 100 Armory Ct. , #107 Jackson, MI 49202

Address and directions:

You will be coming to 634 N. Mechanic Street, Jackson, MI 49202. Take I-94 to exit 139.

Coming from the east, turn left; from the west, turn right. This is Cooper Street. Travel

down about 3 lights, and on your right will be a large building named Great Lakes Caring.

(You can see the old prison walls directly behind it.) At this light, the street divides into

Francis and Cooper. Bear right on Cooper. Make an immediate right onto Armory Court.

Straight ahead of you is ART 634 and once there turn left. Parking is on the right where

the sign says, “Park Here for the Arts.” We will meet out front, or if you are early, come

into ART 634 and if you wish, have a cup of coffee at CUPPA.

Itinerary

9:45 am arrive at ART 634. Park in the lot with the sign that says, “Park for the Arts.” A bus to the historic Michigan

Theatre leaves at 10:00 am. At the Theatre, after a brief history of the theatre, you experience a program of

interactive film with live storytelling: “Jacktown: The History of Michigan’s First State Prison.” Hear and see tales and

images of prison life, solitary, colorful inmates, night keepers, crime, punishment, and reform.

12:20 pm: Board the bus. Eat lunch at tables where thousands of inmates downed their prison chow. At 7-Block,

experience the fully intact cellblock where the inmates from the First Prison went when it closed. Hear the startling

tales of 7-Block during the Detroit Riots of 1967; stories of famous/infamous inmates; and a daring helicopter

escape. This is a closed cellblock on the grounds of the operating Jackson State Correctional Facilities. Cameras, cell

phones and tobacco are not allowed and must be left on the bus that transports us to 7 Block. (*Note: The 7-Block

part of the tour may be reasonably cancelled should unforeseen events such as a lockdown at the Jackson State

Correctional Facilities occur.)

2:30 pm: Board the bus to Art 634 to visit the Old Prison Gift Shop & Gallery, other interesting artists’ shops, and

CUPPA, the cozy coffee café.