Typical Prison block
the inner ward of the castle (jail)
My wife and I visited Eastern State Penitentiary Labor Day weekend of 2016. I had never heard of this destination until I found myself "googling" MUST SEE destinations in the city of Philadelphia and happened upon this destination. This is an eerie place where you feel as if the walls are actually talking to you as you look into prison life of early America. Eastern State opened in 1829 and held some of our nation's most hardened criminals up until it closed in 1971. Eastern State was a tough place and was founded on the principle of isolation, meaning prisoners were held to a very strict code of personal confinement in order to be left alone to think about their negative behavior and become truly penitent for their actions. Penitent: feeling or showing sorrow and regret for having done wrong; repentant. To learn more about Eastern State Penitentiary visit: http://www.easternstate.org
Entrance to Cellblock 9
Only view of the outside world for prisoners
Restored cell
Al Capones Cell
the Hospital wing
Typical Tourist
Cellblock 7
Ariel View by Aritst
“If you want total security, go to prison. There you’re fed, clothed, given medical care and so on. The only thing lacking... is freedom.”