Philly’s Other History Eastern State Penitentiary
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“The building is designed to strike fear into your heart by giving you a completely solitary, isolated experience,” Steve Buscemi whispered in my ear. Then I heard a creaky, heavy cell door being pulled shut with a metal-on-metal bang that made me jump. I had just entered solitary confinement in prison.
I was listening to the audio tour of Eastern State Penitentiary narrated by actor Steve Buscemi. Steve freaked me out in the movies Reservoir Dogs and Fargo, so he was the perfect voice to be echoing through my head as I walked through the crumbling cell blocks. Yes, Philadelphia is the home of some of the most famous pieces of Colonial History, but the Liberty Bell isn’t the only historic iron in town. Eastern State Penitentiary is an abandoned prison in the middle of Philadelphia that you can’t overlook. It’s full of historical significance and full of great images ready to be taken, which, of course, was the reason I was there armed with my camera while listening to Steve.
Table of Contents
Architecture of Isolation
Imagine being the architect who gets to design a building to intimidate and isolate you. That’s what architect John Haviland’s claim to fame was – an architect of solitary fear. A prison is one of the only buildings that you create, and hope that people never come in it. John Haviland had a big challenge ahead of him and looked to God to help out. Luckily, God was a good guide in this case and the prison interior was designed with high vaulted ceilings to give it the feeling of a church and repentance when you entered. However the building had an identity crisis, it was somewhat church-like on the inside, yet Gothic and cold on the outside with high medieval looking walls and towers.
This was a revolutionary idea in 1829: building a prison where each prisoner would be completely solo and alone. Haviland designed the prison in an asterisk formation, with seven cell blocks radiating from a central rotunda. Each prisoner had his or her own private cell, centrally heated, with running water, a flush toilet, and a skylight (the only light). Adjacent to the cell was a private outdoor exercise yard contained by a ten-foot wall and just used by that single prisoner. In essence, the prisoners had everything they needed to survive in their cell and never had to come out of it or see another person.
You might think this was cruel, however, this new form of prison actually was allowing better treatment than what prisoners of that day were used to.
“Eastern State Penitentiary broke sharply with the prisons of its day, abandoning corporal punishment and ill treatment. This massive new structure, opened in 1829, became the most expensive American building of its day and soon the most famous prison in the world. The Penitentiary would not simply punish, but move the criminal toward spiritual reflection and change. The method was a Quaker-inspired system of isolation from other prisoners, with labor.” –from the historical documents of ESP
Isolation and the Solo Traveler
I’ve been a solo traveler and living a solo life for a very long time; I love my time alone. I think being alone for a time is necessary for everyone – it’s empowering. However, being solo and being isolated are two different things. Isolation does not bring empowerment, it brings depression; and in Eastern State’s case, they hoped it brought reform. Over the years of traveling solo, I’ve had my moments of feeling isolated, cut off from the rest of the world, lost, and no one who understands my life. In fact, it’s probably one of the hardest things about being a solo nomadic traveler for a decade – the isolation.
This Eastern State Penitentiary version of isolation sounded pretty horrible, and it looked horrible, too – which is why I was there. I love to photograph abandoned, run-down places, and that’s exactly why I came to Eastern State – photography. However what I didn’t anticipate was the story and history behind it being so interesting and so applicable to my own solo life in a way.
Evolution of Isolation and Abandonment
This idea of solitary prison that evoked penitence through complete isolation eventually died out, and the Pennsylvania System was abandoned in 1913. The system was abandoned, but the prison was not. They added on levels more cell blocks, mirrors, a dining room, an exercise yard, and even a synagogue. Eastern State evolved with the times and was used as a prison until 1971, when it was permanently closed.
There it sat, eroding away, with no plan for the site’s future. Sure – the city of Philadelphia talked about turning it into a park or mall, but eventually, they settled on making it a historic landmark. However, they had a lot of restoration to do since the prison had been ignored for nearly 13 years. They had to take it back from Mother Nature. It reopened in 1994 for tours where visitors wore hard hats. They’ve continued to put a lot of work into the restoration, and now it’s one of the biggest visitor attractions in Philadelphia.
Eastern State Penitentiary Photography
For those who like destitute and abandoned places, bring a camera and spend the day photographing the halls (tripods require special access and a fee). I suggest taking a wide-angle lens to really get the maximum creepy effect down the long halls, but don’t forget the details of crumbling paint and debris, either. It’s a great place to play with lines and light and really dust off your photography and composition skills.
And don’t be intimidated by traveling there alone, you won’t ever feel isolated in this popular Philladelphia historic attraction!
Eastern State Penitentiary Tours
Eastern State Penitentiary Website
- Hours: Every day, 10 AM to 5 PM, except holidays
- Cost: $21 – the Steve Buscemi narrated audio tour and exhibitions are included in the ticket price. Tripod use pays an extra fee.
- Tours: I took the audio tour and was there for 4 ½ hours (you can stay as long as you like), taking photos and wandering the crumbling halls and cells. In addition, throughout the day, there are guided visits to more unstable parts of the prison that aren’t open to the public. I hghly recommend you look at the schedule for these and plot out a plan for seeing all of the guided visit areas. They are creepy and fascinating and were my favorite part of the tour as it took me to places that were even better to photograph!
- Eastern State Penitentiary Haunted Tours: It is said ESP is one of the most haunted places in the world. Yes, there are ghosts in the prison. In October, they run their historical tours at night which makes them even more creepier, and they also have a haunted house/prison that they run (separate from the historical tours) called Terror Behind the Walls – get tickets early.
Plan Your Trip to Philadelphia
Where to stay in Philadelphia
Stay at the Sonesta Philly, where you will get more than a bed; you’ll get an entire museum. The Sonesta is known as the ‘art hotel’ and showcases exhibitions in their lobby gallery that change every 6 months. They also commissioned a mural for the outside of the building – so don’t forget to look up!
Unique Things to Do in Philadelphia
In addition to the Eastern State Penitentiary Tour, check out history at Context Travel’s Colonial History in Philadelphia Tour. Context Tours has been a long-time favorite of mine, and Philadelphia is their home, so they offer a bunch of tours that you shouldn’t miss!
Need More Ideas? Use Visit Philly’s website to plan out things to do and check out the events.
Eating in Philadelphia
Forget the top 10 lists and Michelin Guides, and get advice from a local. I met food blogger Marilyn Johnson from PhillyGrub Blog while in Philly and I happily took her advice for a number of places! My favorite – Cleavers for my cheesesteak – a close stop from my Sonesta Hotel – delicious!
Drinking in Philadelphia
Stop at the secretive Franklin Mortgage & Investment Company. No, it’s not a bank, it’s a speakeasy near the Sonesta Hotel. Or, if you want something more refined, have a drink at the Sofitel Liberte Lounge, where they have their own rooftop beehives raising honey for their fun cocktail menu!
Disclosure:
I was a guest of Visit Philly and Sonesta Hotel during my stay in Philadelphia for the Bloghouse workshop. However, all opinions here are my own.
I loved your blog. I always been fascinated with historical places. Also like to wander about old old cemeteries. And read the tombstones, imaging their life story.
I’m a cemetery nut too – https://www.ottsworld.com/blogs/cemetery-tourism/! I do photography in Cemeteries around the world. I agree…I love imagining the stories behind the tombstones. Do you have a favorite cemetery you have visited?
Yes the Van Courtlant Park Cemetery. It’s old an over grown with grass. The city stopped taking care of it. It’s a shame that are not maintains it since the park was a estate that was given to NYC by the family. It’s should be a landmark. Washington had a battle there n slept in one of the houses. The park and everything is very well taken care of but not the families cemetery.
Great post. Your photos are moving and profound. Really enjoyed reading it!
Thanks! I hope if you are in Philly you go check it out. It’s supposed to be great for Halloween tours!