WELCOME TO
JOE HILL
VISITOR CENTER
In Joe Hill´s hometown of Gävle.
JOE HILL VISITOR CENTER
Your introduction to Joe Hill and his Gävle begins at the Joe Hill Visitor Center, from where you can trace his footsteps through the city. What remains from his time, and how is he remembered in Gävle, his hometown?
The Joe Hill Visitor Center tells the story of both the icon and the man, who was born in Gävle in 1879 and executed in Utah in 1915. You can find us in the heart of Gävle, inside the Prison Museum of Sweden.
OPEN ALL YEAR ROUND
Wednesday 12.00 - 16.00
Thursday 12.00 - 16.00
Friday 12.00 - 16.00
Saturday 12.00- 16.00
No entrance fee.
Closed on bigger holidays.
BORN IN GÄVLE 1879
Joe Hill was born as Joel Hägglund, in Gävle 1879. He lived in Gävle until he was 23 years old. Today his childhood home is a museum, situated not far away from the Joe Hill Visitor Center.
LEGENDARY PROTEST SINGER
As an immigrant Joe Hill became a member in the union I.W.W. (Industrial Workers of the World). As a labor activist he became one of the most influental protest singers in the US in the 1900s.
EXECUTED 1915
November 19th 1915 Joe Hill was executed by firing squads in a prison in Utah, USA, convicted for murder. Critics argued that the trial and conviction were unfair, with even the President Woodrow Wilson asking for clemency.
OUR FRIENDS
Joe Hill Visitor Center has been created with the help of volunteers and funds from Gävle municipality.
WHAT TO EXPECT
Joe Hill Visitor Center is situated in an old prison from 1847.
In the same building you will find the Prison museum of Sweden, which keeps the visitor center open during its opening hours. The visitor center has no staff on its own, and is free to visit.
The prison closed 1986, but in Joe Hill´s time this was the County Prison of Gävleborg. Joe Hill was never imprisoned here, but he probably knew some who were.