The former Illinois State Penitentiary in Joliet, built with limestone quarried and shaped by incarcerated men, opened in 1858 as a replacement for the original Alton prison. Completed in 1860, it quickly became overcrowded and notorious for poor conditions, sparking calls for its closure. Even after the nearby Statesville Correctional Center opened in 1926, Joliet remained at capacity until its eventual closure in 2002. Preservation efforts have since saved the site, now open for public tours. The prison also holds a unique connection to the Lincoln Highway: in 1915, incarcerated workers built nearly three miles of the route through Will County, earning just 50 cents a day as part of an agreement between local communities, the state, and the Lincoln Highway Association.