Opened in 1829, Philadelphia’s Eastern State Penitentiary was built on a revolutionary new philosophy when rehabilitating convicted criminals. This new prison was designed to make the prisoners penitent without corporal punishment or ill treatment, coining the new term “penitentiary.” Since its opening, people have visited the prison to view the innovative architecture that inspired over 300 international prisons.
The prison closed in 1971 due to age and costly repairs and wasn’t reopened for tours until 1994. Now the prison is owned by a non-profit organization whose only goal is to preserve the site and educate the public on its history. Through their tours you can learn about how ESP utilized isolation tactics, the first in the world to do so, in an effort to make the prisoners reflect on their wrongdoing. However, the prison came under critical fire for these practices and the Pennsylvania System was abandoned in 1913 as were isolation practices.
ESP is open daily from 10-5 and let’s you take as long as you want. Audio tours are narrated by actor Steve Buscemi and lead you through prisoner cells in interactive hands-on history programs and even through underground punishment cells. Art installations and history exhibits are set up throughout the prison in the cells of famous prisoners including Al Capone, who stayed here comfortably for eight months, and notorious bank robber “Slick” Willie Sutton.
If you are brave enough and are interested in the paranormal, Eastern State Penitentiary is open at night for a haunted house inside the prison. As an allegedly haunted prison, ESP builds up its history and ghostly encounters for your terrific, adrenaline fueled enjoyment.