Eastern State Penitentiary

Our kids guide is back! Designed with children aged 7 to 12 in mind, but available to anyone, this special scavenger hunt makes a visit to Eastern State more engaging for younger visitors and their families. Pick up a packet on your way in, complete your search, and show us your work at the end of your tour to earn a surprise sticker. You can claim your prize at our outdoor pop-up shop, at the admissions desk, or when you return your audio guides on the way out.

On This Night in 1958: Eastern State inaugurates a new night school program for prisoners. Eighty-seven inmates attend the opening program. At night, the penitentiary takes on a different energy. Experience it firsthand at #NightToursESP this fall: www.EasternState.org/NightTours... Image: Prisoner at a desk, c. 1954. Photo: collection of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, gift of the family of John D. Shearer.

Last week, Eastern State staff gathered for a small, outdoor, physically-distanced celebration. There’s no doubt this year has been challenging, so it was nice to take a moment to mark some good news. In addition to the staff’s hard work in recent months, we celebrated two awards from the Preservation Alliance for Greater Philadelphia. Materials Conservation Co., LLC and Eastern State shared a Grand Jury Award for preservation work on Al Capone’s Cell. And our very own President and CEO Sally Elk received the James Biddle Award for lifetime achievement in historic preservation. Congratulations to all involved in the Capone project and a big kudos to our fearless leader, Sally!

Join Programming Specialist Damon McCool as he briefs us on the latest in COVID-19 and how the health crisis is impacting our criminal justice system. He will examine how prisons, jails, corrections staff, incarcerated people, and other stakeholders are handling the pandemic. Here’s Damon with the latest.

On This Night in 1900: Overseers Fairbrother and Campbell report that during the evening, Marian Davis (inmate A-9449) made an unusual noise. They investigated together and found her laughing and talking to herself. The Matron Mrs. Royer makes further inquiry and reports that the Davis could not sleep, that in order to keep others from sleeping, resorted to scratching the wall. At night, the penitentiary takes on a different energy. Experience it firsthand at #NightToursESP t...his fall: www.EasternState.org/NightTours Image: Cell at Eastern State Penitentiary. From the New York Tribune, June 7, 1903.

Join the conversation! Eastern State staff read a weekly article on current corrections for group discussion. Take a look at this week’s article and share your thoughts below: https://wapo.st/3kWgwzc "In what would be a first in the U.S., possession of small amounts of heroin, cocaine, LSD and other hard drugs could be decriminalized in Oregon under a ballot measure that voters are deciding on in Tuesday’s election." And, an update - the measure passed: https://bit.ly/36508Gp

On This Night in 1938: Charles O'Neil (inmate D-1912) is placed in the 13th Block at 10:30 P.M. for creating a disturbance on the 5th Gallery. At night, the penitentiary takes on a different energy. Experience it firsthand at #NightToursESP this fall: www.EasternState.org/NightTours

Don't forget -- due to popular demand, we added four Night Tours dates this month! Both this week and next, we are open Wednesday through Sunday night. For the best deal, plan your visit for either Wednesday or Thursday. Tickets for those dates are just $19! Photo: Erin Davis / More info: www.EasternState.org/NightTours

Most incarcerated Americans are barred from voting. Our guests discuss how voting works for the small number of incarcerated citizens who have the right, and what’s being done to expand the franchise to more incarcerated Americans. We’ll also hear from currently incarcerated people about how they would vote in the upcoming election, if they were able.

On This Night in 1903: Leslie McCully (inmate B-346) is taken out of his cell to care for electric lights in evening. At night, the penitentiary takes on a different energy. Experience it firsthand at #NightToursESP this fall: www.EasternState.org/NightTours... Image: Cell at Eastern State Penitentiary. From the New York Tribune, June 7, 1903.