The old Edinburg jail

Texas · United States · Execution site

The tower at the top of the stairs was the hanging room. The stairs are where visitors notice it first.

The Museum of South Texas History at Edinburg occupies the old county courthouse and jail.

In the original part of the building, visitors describe the feeling starting on the stairs going up to the tower.

The tower was the hanging room. Prisoners sentenced to death were executed there.

County jails in Texas carried out their own executions until the state centralised them in 1924, which means every county seat of any age has a room like this somewhere in it, usually now used for storage or shown to school parties.

The record of how many died in this one exists and is part of what the museum holds.

That is the unusual thing here. Most sites in this archive have lost their documentation. A courthouse keeps it, and the museum in the building is the institution responsible for it.

The museum is open to visitors and the tower is part of the tour.

FAQ

Where is The old Edinburg jail located?

The old Edinburg jail is in Texas, United States.