Why You Should Go...
Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held nearly 85,000 people over its long history, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and "Scarface" Al Capone.
Explore Eastern State's historic cellblocks through a self-guided audio tour, narrated by award-winning actor Steve Buscemi, or a guide-led tour & discussion, now available seven days a week.
Learn about the penitentiary's history and relevance today through a critically acclaimed series of Artist Installations and award-winning criminal justice exhibits. Plus, visit Al Capone's cell, the historic Hospital Block, and the Synagogue."
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Why You Should Go...
Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers. Its vaulted, sky-lit cells held nearly 85,000 people over its long history, including bank robber "Slick Willie" Sutton and "Scarface" Al Capone.
Explore Eastern State's historic cellblocks through a self-guided audio tour, narrated by award-winning actor Steve Buscemi, or a guide-led tour & discussion, now available seven days a week.
Learn about the penitentiary's history and relevance today through a critically acclaimed series of Artist Installations and award-winning criminal justice exhibits. Plus, visit Al Capone's cell, the historic Hospital Block, and the Synagogue."
What You Should Know...
Open:
Year-Round
Cost: Less than $25
Payment: Cash, MC, Visa, AMEX, Discover
Discounts: Children, Seniors, Students, Groups, AAA Members, Military
Access: Wheelchair, Public Transportation, Service Animals, Bicycle
Parking: Street, Bicycle
Available: Audio Tour, Self-Guided Tour, Guided Tour, Gift Shop, Souvenirs
Extra Fun...
Fun Facts
Al Capone served his first prison sentence at Eastern State Penitentiary in 1929. You can see his cell, recreated to look like what it did when he was incarcerated here.
Eastern State Penitentiary was the first building in the United States to have central heat and running water – even before the White House.
Eastern State Penitentiary was the backdrop for many movies, TV shows, and music videos, including 12 Monkeys, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, Return to Paradise, a Tina Turner music video, a Dead Milkman music video, Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures and many more.
How You Can Follow...