Tour The Historic Mono County Jail In Bridgeport
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Found just off of Bridgeport’s Main Street, behind the historic courthouse, sits one of the oldest still-standing buildings in Mono County, the historic jail.
Originally built in 1883 and made up of mostly concrete and iron, this wonderfully preserved jail gives visitors a small glimpse into what being imprisoned was like near the turn of the century.
The craziest fact of this jail is that it was in use as recently as 1964, when it closed. It still sits in its original location, with the modern county jail built directly adjacent to it.
These days, the county keeps the front door open to anyone who wishes to explore it. In this guide, we’ll cover topics such as fees, where to find it and much more.
Be sure to check out our post, “7 Things You’ll Love About Bridgeport”, for more amazing things to do in Bridgeport!
Quick Stats
Location: Bridgeport, California
Fee: None
Permit: None
Open: Open during daylight hours
For: Everyone
Restroom: None
Parking: Along the street
EV Stations: Nearest ones are down the street behind the Shell station
Difficulty: Easy, but not fully ADA compliant to protect historical integrity
Popularity: Low
Time: An hour or less
Condition: Well-maintained
Pets: Not allowed inside
Our Visit(s): September 2022
Getting There
As mentioned above, the historic jail is located in the tiny mountain town of Bridgeport, CA. It’s on Bryant street, directly behind the courthouse (a historic building in its own right).
If you’re coming into town from the north, you’ll turn left onto School street, then turn right onto Bryant street. The jail will be on your left.
If you’re coming from the south, you’ll turn right onto Sinclair street (just after Rhino’s Bar & Grill) and turn left onto Bryant street. The jail will be on your right.
Free parking is available along the street on either side. If for some reason there’s nothing there, you can find a spot along the main drag and walk to the jail.
Touring The Historic Jail
Tours of Mono County Historic Jail are self-guided and free of charge. So feel free to take as much or as little time as you wish.
There are no posted hours of operation, but I was told that the jail is usually open daily during daylight hours. It’s usually closed on major holidays, though.
Here are some stats of the historic jail:
Construction on the historic jail was completed on December 12th, 1883.
It’s original cost was $5,750.
The building is only 32 x 34 feet.
Its stone walls are two feet thick, twelve feet high, and are made up of hammer-dressed stone.
The iron cells were reused from the old jail.
The iron doors were constructed of 1.5 inch bar stock.
The iron gratings in the windows are one inch bars, set deeply into the stone blocks.
The jail remained in operation until 1964.
After learning these facts and experiencing the jail for yourself, you’ll quickly realize that this place wasn’t build for comfort. Not even a little.
There are around half a dozen or so jail cells of varying sizes, all of which are open for you to enter and explore. You can also see the two shower stalls that all inmates had to share.
Inside the cells are examples of bunks and bedding inmates were given to sleep on. I can’t say for certain if these were actually used in the jail or if they’re just examples, though.
It won’t take you very long to explore the jail. There’s only two main rooms consisting of six or so cells, two shower stalls and the administration area when you first walk in.
When you’re done checking it out, simply head back to your car and enjoy the rest of your day. While you’re in Bridgeport, be sure to check out the other amazing things to see.
If you’re not sure what else there is to do here, check out our post, “7 Things You’ll Love About Bridgeport”.
If you’re looking for a bite to eat (specifically a juicy burger), check out our post about our favorite burger joint in the area, Burger Barn.
Your Thoughts…
Are you or someone in your family history buffs? If so, we believe you (or them) would love this quick roadside stop. Tell us about any other historic structures in the area that you know of. We love hearing from our readers!
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