Eastern State Penitentiary

Radical 19th-century prison designed to create social change

Solitary walk through Eastern State Penitentiary Credit: Courtesy Eastern State Penitentiary

Description

The Experience

Eastern State Penitentiary set the standard for penal reform, with its soaring, castle-like Gothic architecture and its founders’ Quaker-inspired belief that solitary confinement could reform criminals. The 11-acre prison even had central heat, running water and flush toilets before the White House! A Who’s Who of the underworld – bank robber Willie Sutton, who staged a breakout in 1945, and Al Capone, who furnished his cell with antiques, rugs and oil paintings – both served time here.

Tours include a look at life inside the prison’s historic cell blocks, Al Capone’s restored 19th-century cell, stories of inmate escapes, and critically acclaimed art installations. The annual “Terror Behind the Walls” tours – running select nights from September until November – are the region’s premier Halloween event!

History

When Eastern State opened in 1829, visitors from around the world marveled at its grand architecture (John Havilland) and radical philosophy. The experiment, to reform criminals through strict isolation, soon became a model for prison design world wide. An estimated 300 prisons on four continents are based on Eastern’s distinctive “wagon-wheel” floor plan. Once the most expensive building in the USA, Eastern State was finally abandoned in 1971 after 142 years in use. It is a National Historic Landmark.

Virtual Tour

The New York Times has published a fantastic multimedia tour of the prison called Voices from Eastern State Penitentiary, featuring audio clips and great photography. View it here.

Terror Behind The Walls

Terror Behind the Walls is a blockbuster fall attraction and is considered one of the top haunted houses in the country. Click here to visit our page on Eastern State’s annual Halloween haunted house inside the penitentiary.

Kids’ Stuff

Eastern State Penitentiary offers a Scavenger Hunt activity guide, free with admission for children ages 7-12.

Other Information

The historic site is now effectively open seven days a week all year round, except Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve, Christmas day, and New Year’s day.

ESP also offers Winter Adventure Tours during the “off season” from December 1 through March 14. The tours consist of a one-hour guided walk through the empty penitentiary by an expert tour guide.

Reservations are recommended. Winter Adventure Tours are offered: Mondays through Fridays – 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m.; Saturdays and Sundays – Every half hour from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Insider Tip

Bring a camera! Photographers travel from all over the country to capture Eastern’s cathedral-like cellblocks and haunting, sky-lit prison cells. Insiders call the Penitentiary “ESP.”