Go inside one of the nation’s most famous lockdowns at the Eastern State PenitentiaryNovember 1st, 2020

Located in downtown Philadelphia, ESP was once the most expensive and innovative institution in the nation. Housing prisoners from 1821 to 1971, the prison was one of the first to use solitary confinement as a tool for reform. The penitentiary was a marvel in architecture and held notable criminals such as Slick Willie Sutton and Al Capone. Get a guided audio tour from actor Steve Bushemi and hear the history as well as firsthand stories from prisoners as well as advocates of modern day prison reform.

Built between 1821-1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was built to focus on solitary confinement of its inmates. The idea was to keep inmates separated from each other as well as guards as much as possible. It gave inmates time to think and reflect on what they did. With the philosophy of prisons changing, so was the architecture. The setup of the prison became the first of its kind in the 1920’s. There were no large recreation areas and food was given to prisoners through feed doors instead of a communal eating area.

Over the next several decades, the prison expanded and became a model for institutions around the world. As several more blocks were constructed, they began stacking cells on top of each other, in order to accommodate higher populations of prisoners. In the late 1800’s studies had found the theory of solitary confinement did nothing to help the process of rehabilitation. However, this didn’t stop ESP from continuing the terrible treatment of its inmates After nearly 90 years of the brutal conditions of solitary confinement, the state of Pennsylvania abolished the practice in 1913. Over the next several decades, it adapted to new norms of incarceration. But, due to the inability to keep up with increasing maintenance of the outdated facility, Eastern State Penitentiary was forced to close in 1971.

The self-guided audio tour gives with accounts from historians, former guards and inmates. Each cell block is focused on a specific dynamic of the prison or the prison system itself. You will get a great viewpoint of life inside the prison during the different time periods as it evolved. Stories are told of what daily life was like and the brutal conditions prisoners were forced to live in. They do a great job of showcasing the tiny cells with limited utilities and grim conditions. The view from inside the yard walls and guard towers are truly amazing as you can see the surrounding skyline of downtown Philadelphia.

At the moment there is an excellent interactive highlighting the efforts of recent prison reform and the issues surrounding the private prison systems of America. One of the cell blocks highlights many inmates that were incarcerated for crimes that are not considered crimes anymore. There are many art and film exhibits throughout the tour, showcasing many social issues involved in today’s prison system. If you attend the night tour, you can see some of the artwork and films projected inside the 30-foot walls. The main highlight iis the replicated cell of Al Capone. The cell is luxuriously decorated (for prison standards) just as it was when the famous gangster was an inmate for 9 months in 1929. He was allowed to have the walls painted and decorated with paintings, as well as have special wood furniture.

There is so much history packed inside the walls of the Eastern State Penitentiary. The prison is owned by the City of Philadelphia and has been designated a national historic landmark. It’s been used on television, in music videos and in several movies such as 12 Monkeys and Animal Factory. The facility has been updated to meet Covid-19 protocols with sanitizer stations and reminders to keep distance from other guests. Masks are required by everyone inside the building. The audio tour gives you an opportunity to go at your own pace to learn the history as you see the sights of the massive facility hidden in downtown Philadelphia.

For more information on Eastern State Penitentiary visit Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site 

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