A small brick building right next to the Coosa River holds history that outdates the city it stands in. The Old Calaboose jail in downtown Wetumpka is easy to spot but the history behind goes beyond the simplicity of the building.
Keep reading to uncover its fascinating origins and why it’s still standing strong after all these years.
A Small Jail That Holds a Big Story
Though simple in appearance, the Wetumpka Old Calaboose is packed with historical significance. It was built during a time when Alabama was just beginning to shape its identity, and Wetumpka was a frontier settlement growing along the banks of the Coosa River.
These early jails—known as “calabooses,” a term derived from the Spanish word calabozo—were designed to be functional above all else. Though it no longer serves its original purpose, the Calaboose still stands as a quiet reminder of the town’s early days, when law and order looked a lot different than it does now…