Once the "Lake County Jail", the Sheriff's House provides a glimpse into Chicago's gangster-ridden past.
John Dillinger was captured in Tucson, Arizona, on January 30th, 1934. Lake County had priority to try him for a deadly bank robbery which occurred that year. Held in the building at right, Dillinger planned his fantastic escape.
He carved a gun from a wooden washboard using razor blades, and stained it with black shoe polish. This was used until an automatic was taken from a guard, then hostages were taken and later released in the getaway to Illinois. That Sunday, Dillinger was killed by Federal officers outside a Chicago theater.