• Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous prison in the world, but stands...
  • If you haven’t heard of Eastern State Penitentiary, it’s a prison that was opened in 1829 and used all the way up to 1971, and at the time of its creation, it was a...
  • Due to overcrowding, the Eastern State Penitentiary eliminated the Pennsylvania System of isolation and penitence in 1913.
  • When the Eastern State Penitentiary opened in 1829, it proved to be a marvel of design.
  • Designed by John Haviland and opened on October 25, 1829, Eastern State is considered to be the world’s first true penitentiary.
  • While tickets are free for kids age 6 and younger, the Eastern State Penitentiary is not recommended for children younger than 7.
  • In operation from 1829 to 1971, Eastern State Penitentiary in North Philadelphia hosted thousands of prisoners.
  • When it opened in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was one of the most progressive prisons in the country.
  • Eastern State Penitentiary shut down in 1971, having abandoned solitary confinement nearly 100 years earlier—as much because it was too expensive as...