Eastern State Penitentiary: the Gothic Home of Dangerous Criminals
On the dark side of the sightseeing objectives located in Pennsylvania, there is an eleven acres building, that used to host America’s most notorious criminals. Nowadays, Eastern State Penitentiary is a museum, that’s open for anybody who wants to take a look at the first penitentiary ever built.
Back in 1829, the architect John Haviland came up with the radial structure, that was able to host over 250 inmates in separate, single-person small cells. Over the 142 years of functioning, the prison held over 75,000 criminals, both men and women.
Apart from its size and history, there are other architectural details that amaze today’s visitors.
Having 10 feet height and a 8 x 12 feet surface, each cell had a hot water heating, personal toilet and a sink. Back then, it was quite impressive for a prison to offer such services. Also, there were the exercise yards, which were individual as well. The only source of light was a small window close to the ceiling, also known as the “Window of God.” It was often seen as a symbol of the idea, that God is always watching over everyone.
For “Scarface” Al Capone, though, things were different. The notorious criminal was held in the Pennsylvania Penitentiary for 8 months between 1929-1930. His so-called luxury cell had a comfortable bed, a desk and 2 lamps.
While in prison, the inmates heads were covered, so they wouldn’t be able to map the prison mentally. Another reason for it was to avoid violence between criminals; as they couldn’t see each others faces. Despite this, in 1930, while workers were renovating the building, over 30 incomplete tunnels dug by inmates were found.
As for torture practices, one habit to remember was the so-called “mad chair.” Inmates that didn’t behave were tied so tightly that the blood circulation of their joints often stopped and their arms or legs required amputation. For the worst of them, there was “the hole,” a cell located underground. Chances of suffocation were increased here as there was little air, no source of light and, of course, no contact with other people.
In 1971, Eastern State Penitentiary was officially closed. Nowadays, visitors from all over the globe can walk on the long hallways and take a look at what used to be the most secure prison in USA.
Submitted by Hamid Bagha. Thank you.
UnusualPlaces Field Notes
- Location
- Eastern State Penitentiary tour entrance, 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
- Coordinates
- 39.96753, -75.17269
- Access
- The historic site is open rain or shine. The one-way visitor route traverses a semi-ruin with uneven ground and sharp stone edges; stay in marked public areas. The building has no climate control, so dress for outdoor temperatures. Check the operator’s daily schedule and book tickets online or at the door, subject to availability.
- Admission
- Current daytime admission: online $21 adult, $19 senior, $17 ages 7–17; at the door $23, $21 and $19 respectively. Children under 7 are not recommended. Members enter free; eligible ACCESS Card, Museums for All, SEPTA reduced-fare card holders and visitors with a disability can request $2 daytime admission. Special-event tickets are separate.
- Time needed
- Most visitors spend about 2 hours. The main audio tour takes about 40 minutes; additional audio stops, exhibits and art installations can add several hours. Last entry is one hour before closing.
- Best season
- No preferred season is named by the operator. The historic site is open year-round, but the building has no climate control: summers can be hot and winters chilly. Dress for the weather and wear sturdy shoes.
- Opening hours
- Current operator schedule: daily 10:00–17:00 March–November and December 23–31; Wednesday–Monday 10:00–17:00 January–February and December 1–22 (closed Tuesdays in those periods). Closed New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving, Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. Check for event dates and unexpected closures.
- Location checked
- 2026-09-23
- Facts checked
- 2026-09-30
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