The Old Jail Museum — Website Redesign & Ecommerce Integration
A custom WordPress + WooCommerce site for a historic landmark and museum.
Overview
Client: The Old Jail Museum, Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Industry: Heritage Tourism & Historical Education
Services Provided: Web Design, Custom WordPress Development, WooCommerce, Booking Integration, Admin Tools
Project Duration: June–August 2025
The Old Jail Museum is a historic landmark in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania, known for its striking 19th-century architecture and the famous handprint in Cell 17 legend. Their existing website, built on Wix, lacked the functionality, flexibility, and design impact needed to showcase the museum’s story or handle modern ecommerce.
I was hired to create a fully customized WordPress + WooCommerce website that could support ticketing, merchandise sales, and historical storytelling, while also giving the museum staff easy tools for day-to-day management.
Objectives
- Replace the outdated Wix site with a custom, future-proof WordPress build.
- Create a professional online shop for museum merchandise and books.
- Integrate Bookeo for ticket booking and tour reservations.
- Build client-friendly admin tools for self-management of content, events, and sales.
- Present the museum’s heritage and stories in a more visually compelling way.
Process
Discovery & Challenges
The client needed a site that could do more than just advertise tours. Their goals were multifaceted:
- Sell books and merchandise online.
- Handle real-time ticket bookings.
- Improve storytelling and credibility (the Wix version felt dated).
- Empower staff to manage the site without constant developer intervention.
Budget was an important constraint, so I balanced cost-effectiveness with long-term flexibility, building on WordPress with WooCommerce for ecommerce and Bookeo for booking.
Design & Development
- Information Architecture: Organized content into clear sections: About the Jail, Tours, History, Store, and Contact.
- Visual Design: A historically inspired but clean design, letting archival images and artifacts take center stage.
- Ecommerce Build: WooCommerce integration for selling history books, souvenirs, and exclusive items tied to the handprint legend.
- Booking Integration: Embedded Bookeo for seamless online ticket purchases.
- Custom Admin Tools: Built an intuitive backend with simplified product/tour management for staff.
- Migration & Hosting: Moved from Wix to WordPress hosting, ensuring the site could scale with future needs.
Client Collaboration
As the project progressed, I worked closely with the client to:
- Add historical content and legends (like the Cell 17 handprint).
- Build out the store listings for books and merchandise.
- Customize Bookeo integration for different ticket types (tours, events).
- Provide walkthroughs and documentation so staff could confidently manage the site moving forward.
Outcome
- Professional & credible — a modern design that reflects the gravity and mystery of the museum.
- Functional & revenue-generating — online ticket sales and a store for merchandise/books.
- Scalable & client-friendly — WordPress + WooCommerce provide a foundation for growth.
- Story-driven — legends and history are integrated with strong visuals and accessible storytelling.
The client is now equipped with a platform that not only preserves their history but also supports their business model through digital sales and bookings.
Key Metrics & Impact
- Moved from Wix → custom WordPress (full ownership and flexibility).
- Enabled 24/7 online ticket bookings via Bookeo.
- Created a museum store for revenue beyond tours.
- Reduced reliance on third parties for site edits, empowering staff.
Tools & Tech
- Platform: WordPress
- Ecommerce: WooCommerce
- Integrations: Bookeo (tours), PayPal/Stripe for payments
- Hosting: WordPress + scalable hosting
- Design: Custom theme tailored to heritage tourism
Reflection
This project shows the value of aligning modern tech with historical storytelling. The Old Jail Museum’s legends deserved more than a static Wix page; they needed a site that could both honor their past and sustain their future. By building a professional store, streamlined booking, and a timeless design, the museum now has the infrastructure to grow, engage visitors, and preserve its identity for years to come.