June 29, 2025

Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary was constructed in Philadelphia in 1822 and by the time it was completed, it was said to be the largest and most expensive public building erected in the United States. It was designed by architecht John Haviland to resemble a medieval castle so as to “strike fear in the hearts of those who thought of committing crime” and it eventually became a model for more than 300 prisons worldwide. On October 25, 1829, ESP began housing its first inmates. It became notorious for various forms of abuse and torture inflicted upon inmates during its long ~140 years of operation. Following a large-scale riot in 1961, officials began taking steps to close the facility. It was closed down in 1971 and subsequently abandoned for nearly two decades. Beginning in the late 1980s, historic preservationists began restoration efforts including small-scale tours of the site. In 1994 daily tours were made open to the public and more than 10,000 visitors attended the first year. It remains open for daily tours and I highly recommend it.

Among other notable inmates, Al Capone served 8 months in Eastern State Penitentiary (from 1929-1930). From 1934-1939, he served time on Alcatraz. His cell in Eastern State Penitentiary has been restored and now appears how it would have looked back then.