Eastern State Penitentiary - Philadelphia, PA

[richtersl]

Opened in 1829, Eastern State is considered to be the world's first true penitentiary. Its system of incarceration originated and encouraged solitary confinement as a form of rehabilitation in the hope that it would move the criminal toward spiritual reflection and change. The method was a Quaker-inspired system of isolation from other prisoners, with labor.

The early Quaker-inspired system was strict. To prevent distraction, knowledge of the building, and even mild interaction with guards, inmates were hooded whenever they were outside their cells. Proponents of this system believed that isolating the criminal from his surroundings in such a manner forced them to think of the ugliness of their crimes and as a result would inspire the criminal to become genuinely penitent, hence the term "penitentiary".

By 1913, Eastern State officially abandoned the solitary system and operated as a congregate prison until it closed in 1970. Some its more famous inmates included Al Capone and Willie Sutton. It is now open as a museum.

No significant attempts have been made for renovations or upkeep. The facility is intentionally kept in a state of preserved ruin. Visitors are asked to sign a liability waiver due to some minor safety concerns.

In the middle 1970’s, the empty prison was designated as a National Historic Landmark and was eventually purchased by the city of Philadelphia to be used as a tourist attraction. The Pennsylvania Prison Society of Philadelphia was placed in charge of operating and promoting it as a historic site and they continue to conduct tours of the penitentiary today.

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Eastern State was a modern marvel of the early 19th Century. Seven cell blocks radiate from a central surveillance rotunda. Each prisoner had his or her own private cell, centrally heated, with running water, a flush toilet, and a skylight. This was in an age when the White House, with its new occupant Andrew Jackson, had no running water and was heated with coal-burning stoves.








In each vaulted, skylit cell, the prisoner had only the light from heaven, the word of God (the Bible) and honest work (shoemaking, weaving, and the like) to lead to penitence. The "light from heaven" emanted from a skylight. As the number of prisoners increased, some of the cell blocks needed to have a second story added, which obscured the skylight.



Throughout the prison there are sculptures of cats. These sculptures represent the colony of cats that took up residence in the prison after it was shut down. For 28 years a man by the name of Dan McCloud (Dan the Cat Man) came to the prison three times a week to take care of the 30-40 jailhouse cats. In 1993 the cats were trapped and neutered by the Spayed Club. The population dwindled and several years later Dan turned the cat care over to the staff at Eastern State.





The cell block hallways are very cathedral-like in appearance with 30-foot, barrel vaulted hallways, tall arched windows, and skylights throughout them. The prison's architect descibed it as a forced monastery, a machine for reform.







Probably Eastern's most famous inmate was Al Capone. Here's how an article in the Philadelphia Public Ledger for August 20, 1929, described Capone's cell: "The whole room was suffused in the glow of a desk lamp which stood on a polished desk.... On the once-grim walls of the penal chamber hung tasteful paintings, and the strains of a waltz were being emitted by a powerful cabinet radio receiver of handsome design and fine finish..."

Capone continued to conduct business from prison. He was given a private cell and allowed to make long-distance telephone calls from the warden’s office and to meet with his lawyers, friends, and family, all of whom made frequent trips to Philadelphia.





The exterior is a menacing, medieval facade, built to intimidate.






Eastern State Penitentiary has been the location for films and for many ghost tours. Throughout the web you can find information about different paranormal investigations that have taken place there. No, I did not see any ghosts while I was there....at least none that I know of.





But I'll tell you honestly that this is undoubtedly one of the creepiest places I've ever visited. Would I go back? Probably.

Just a note for any of you who would like to visit for the purpose of taking pictures: they do not allow you to bring tripods in there with you. If you head there on a bright sunny day, you'll have plenty of natural light to work with and bars to lean on for support.

[i_worship_the_King]

Gorgeous, nothing less.

[wholenewlight]

Neat shots.

I didn't realize you could tour the place. I've seen documentaries on penetentiary and found it very interesting.

PS: it would be close for me - I live in Lancaster

[Nikolai]

Great story, awesome pictures!
Thank you so much for taking us with you!

[Llywellyn]

Wow. Amazing write-up and stunning photos. Thank you so much for sharing!

[Awais Yaqub]

Superb series

[hamster]

Wow, these are amazing! I really love #2 and the gargoyles.

[kenlyne]

Fantastic work! Thanks for the tour, very interesting!

[richtersl]

Thanks so much for looking, folks!

To wholenewlight -- Lancaster is a mere day trip from Philadelphia, perhaps 1.5 hours, that's it.

[schmoo]

ESP! I have wanted to go there for ages and... dammit I just realized it's October already, meaning I've just about missed it this year, too.

Beautiful photos, even with all the people in there. I know that it gets kinda squeezy with tourists which (Ive heard) makes it difficult to get a clean shot, but I think it adds a surreal feeling to the desolate surroundings. Do they really disallow tripods? Last time I checked they just charged extra.