Narrated by Steve Buscemi and featuring the voices of people who lived and worked at Eastern State Penitentiary, the audio tour takes you on a journey through the history and legacy of ESP.

Eastern State Penitentiary becomes the State Correctional Institution at Philadelphia, or SCI-PHA. The City of Philadelphia certifies Eastern State Penitentiary as a historic property.

This 45-minute tour is led by an Eastern State educator and explores the penitentiary’s complex history, its ongoing relevance to contemporary social issues, and sets the stage for …

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is located in beautiful, historic Fairmount, a neighborhood of Victorian homes and some of the best restaurants in the region.

Every visit to Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is unique! ESPHS offers a variety of tours, exhibits, programs, and other dynamic ways to engage with this iconic site’s powerful history …

Frequently Asked Questions Find answers to the most frequently asked questions about Halloween Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary Learn More

In 1829, Eastern State opened, becoming America’s first penitentiary. From then until 1971, Eastern State Penitentiary saw more than 85,000 people pass through its front gate before it …

Built to the scale of Eastern State’s walls, this massive, three-dimensional bar graph sculpture illustrates the unprecedented growth in the United States’ incarceration rates since 1900. It …

Through historical accounts, guided tours, and hands-on activities, learn how people at Eastern State Penitentiary marked holidays like Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Day—finding …

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is open to visitors year-round. Below you’ll find the latest information regarding our hours of operation, including any notices regarding unexpected …