Pennsylvania Eastern State Penitentiary

Pennsylvania Eastern State Penitentiary

Designed by John Haviland and opened in 1829, Eastern State is considered to be the world's first true penitentiary.

Eastern State was viewed as a progressive reform in that it eliminated many of the excesses of physical punishment practiced at the time. Despite this, it was widely believed to have caused significant mental illness among its prisoners due to solitary confinement.

When Charles Dickens visited Philadelphia, the prison was one of two landmarks he wanted to see.

The facility has been kept as a "preserved ruin," meaning that no significant attempts have been made for renovations or upkeep. Guests are asked to sign a liability waiver due to some minor safety concerns.

The film Twelve Monkeys used it as the setting for a mental hospital. The Sci Fi Channel's Ghost Hunters and MTV's Fear both explored the supernatural at Eastern State.

Eastern State is the home of several special events every year. The most popular is the Halloween season's Terror Behind the Walls, where sections of the prison are turned into "Haunted Houses". A celebration is also held every July 14 in honor of Bastille Day.

Location

Fairmount Avenue between Corinthian Ave. and 22nd Street
Philadelphia, Philadelphia County
Pennsylvania
USA

Getting There

To get to Eastern State Penitentiary by public transport, you can take SEPTA bus route 2 or 33, both of which stop near the prison. Alternatively, you can take the SEPTA subway system's orange line to the Fairmount station and then walk about 10 minutes to the prison.

Keep in mind that the distance between the subway stop and the prison may be a bit far for some visitors, so you may want to consider taking a taxi or ride-share service if you have mobility concerns.

Nearby Airports

This is a list of primary airports in Pennsylvania that have scheduled passenger service on commercial airlines.