Eastern State Penitentiary, Prison museum in Fairmount, Philadelphia, United States.
This Gothic Revival prison complex contains seven cellblocks radiating from a central surveillance rotunda, where vaulted skylights illuminate each corridor and the star-shaped architecture allowed complete sight lines from the center.
Architect John Haviland designed this facility that opened in 1829, with its separate confinement system influencing prison architecture worldwide until closure in 1971, inspiring over two hundred similar facilities across Europe and South America.
This institution serves as a forum for contemporary discussions about incarceration and reform movements, hosting exhibitions on justice history that connect with current social debates and organizing events on criminal justice policy that draw national attention.
Visitors receive audio guide devices with headphones for self-guided walks through the cellblocks, with stations covering escapes, daily routines and famous inmates including Al Capone. Sturdy footwear is recommended due to uneven surfaces in deteriorated areas.
The radial layout with individual exercise yards enabled total isolation, with inmates wearing masks during corridor movements to prevent mutual recognition. Some prisoners spent years without direct contact with other people except guards.
Location: Philadelphia
Inception: 1829
Architects: John Haviland
Official opening: 1840
Architectural style: Gothic Revival
Website: http://easternstate.org
GPS coordinates: 39.96833,-75.17250
Latest update: December 12, 2025 16:55
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