Eastern State Penitentiary - Philadelphia - TravBuddy

I thought Eastern State Penn was so cool!!! We took a guided audio tour throughout the jail during the day. Eastern State was one of the first jails in the country. It is built on a unique "wheel" concept that inspired other jails throughout the world. The first inmates of this jail were placed in true solitary confinement, meaning they had their own cell where they ate, slept, and worked in during their entire stay. Most inmates did not see nor speak to another person the entire time. Guards would wear wool socks on the outside of their shoes so the inmates could not hear them walking through the halls. When the inmates were being taken to their cells they went though the back way so they would not walk through the halls and see someone else. This solitary concept was very controversial at the time.
At night we did a haunted house tour that was pretty scary. They turned the jail into a haunted house and allowed the public to come through and tour it. It was voted one of the best haunted houses by AOL.
I can't even imagine all that history holds in those walls. Built in 1829 it's totally something to check out!!!

I also went to Eastern State Penitentiary in Oct 2007. Al Capone had the nicest cell of all. There were pets for the inmates to include a dog named Skip and lots of cats that afforded the inmates an opportunity to at least have something to feed and give love to. The Eastern State Penitentiary was used up until the 1970's. So it is one of the oldest working prison systems up until this century. It house women at one time but the women eventually got moved to Muncy which is a different part of town due to the cohabitation in the system.

It was a well enjoyed self guided tour and ample time is needed to absorb everything.

I was just in Philly, and just roaming around, when I passed by the ESP, and remembered it mentioned in my guidebook. I was fed up with old stuffy museums with art that I can see more of everywhere else. It's $9 and for that you also get an audio-guide that covers everything, but in your own pace. There's also 1-2 free tours a day, but I was so caught up in the prison-life that I forgot to go on it. It's very diverse and has something for all tastes: old "ground-breaking" architecture, history, modern art (believe it or not) and ghost stories.

And it's close to Fairmont Park, so if you feel slightly depressed after the visit, you can enjoy the sunshine there, or go to the library 2 blocks down for free internet.