Eastern State Penitentiary

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is open from 10 am to 5 pm today, July 4, 2024. Spend your holiday considering the true meaning of independence at one of America's most thought-provoking historic sites.

http://www.EasternState.org

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site will be open this Thursday, July 4. Use your day off to contemplate the true meaning of independence at one of America's most thought-provoking historic sites.

http://www.EasternState.org

DEADLINE EXTENDED! Are you a teacher interested in developing classroom materials about justice, incarceration and its history? Apply by July 7 for a chance to be part of an exclusive, four-day Summer Teacher Institute led by Eastern State’s education department and a team of Teacher Advisors.

Participating teachers will receive…

A $600 stipend (paid in two parts)
Act 48 credit (if teaching in Pennsylvania)
A virtual or in-person field trip to Eastern State Penitentiary (tickets and $400 transportation reimbursement provided) for their class during the 2024-25 school year.

Learn more: EasternState.org/teach

On June 29, through the lens of a recently incarcerated person, participants will encounter simulated scenarios that mirror real-life tasks like finding a job, attending treatment, and paying bills. At the end of the activity, participants will debrief their experiences and discuss the criminal justice system and complexities of reentry.

Advance registration required. Don't miss this eye-opening event: https://www.easternstate.org/reentry-simulation

📸 Interior View of Cellblock 9 Tunnel, 1940. Photo: collection of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, gift of John P. Farley, Mary B. Maiden, James J. Farley, Kate Farley, and Bernard C. Farley.

Step into the shoes of a person being released from incarceration. Join Eastern State Penitentiary the evening of June 29 to take part in a reentry simulation.

Through the lens of a recently incarcerated person, participants will encounter simulated scenarios that mirror real-life tasks like finding a job, attending treatment, and paying bills. At the end of the activity, participants will debrief their experiences and discuss the criminal justice system and complexities of reentry.

The reentry simulation is included with admission to Summer Nights at Eastern State Penitentiary on June 29 only. Tickets must be reserved in advance. Learn more: https://www.easternstate.org/reentry-simulation

This Saturday, June 29, join us as an Eastern State educator leads a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion in partnership with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter from Hands UP Productions. This program includes both ASL and voice interpretation. Visitors from the D/deaf, hard of hearing, and hearing communities are welcome to attend.

Purchase tickets online to secure your spot. Learn more: https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/asl-guide-led-tour-and-discussion

What's in store during SUMMER NIGHTS this weekend? ☀️

Join us from 6 pm – 9 pm on Saturday, June 22 to get your portrait drawn by artist Mark Loughney! This activity is included in admission to the historic site.

Learn more: https://www.easternstate.org/summernights

What's in store during SUMMER NIGHTS this weekend? ☀️

Join us from 6 pm – 9 pm on Saturday, June 15 for GAME NIGHT! Learn about the impact of games in prison and compete in a board game tournament at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.

Learn more: https://www.easternstate.org/summernights

Photo: An incarcerated person plays dominos at Eastern State circa 1929.

Are you a teacher interested in developing classroom materials about justice, incarceration and its history? Apply by June 30 for a chance to be part of an exclusive, four-day Summer Teacher Institute led by Eastern State’s education department and a team of Teacher Advisors.

Participating teachers will receive…

A $600 stipend (paid in two parts)
Act 48 credit (if teaching in Pennsylvania)
A virtual or in-person field trip to Eastern State Penitentiary (tickets and $400 transportation reimbursement provided) for their class during the 2024-25 school year.

Learn more: https://www.easternstate.org/teach

Join us in person or online on June 19 as we come together to commemorate Juneteenth, honoring the realized freedom and the struggle of the once enslaved Africans in America. Featuring a live performance of "Unshackled" by The Black Breath Collective, family-friendly storytelling by Thembi Palmer, and a panel discussion.

Virtual admission is free. In-person admission discounted. Additional discounts are available for Museums for All, ACCESS Card, and SEPTA Key Reduced Fare card holders. Many libraries also lend admission passes to Eastern State, which can be checked out from the library and used for admission to Juneteenth.

Learn more: https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/juneteenth-celebration

This year we launched Justice 101, a new virtual monthly education series examining the history and impact of the American justice system. We also welcomed the first participants in The Collaboratory for Justice Education, who bring a wide range of expertise supporting our schools, communities, and families in navigating and understanding our legal system.

Eastern State is becoming a national forum for the many voices seeking real change in the American system of justice, incarceration, and punishment. We seek many different perspectives to work towards a more just and fair system where each of us has a voice and shares our story.

Will you join us today in supporting the critical education work of Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site? ➡️ EasternState.org/give

The United States continues to have one of the highest incarceration rates in the world, impacting nearly two million people, not to mention their families and communities. Many people seek new answers but don’t know where to begin.

And that is why your help is essential. Thanks to the singular role Eastern State has played in redefining justice in America, we are uniquely positioned to meet these challenges, and facilitate a national conversation about prisons, punishment, and the U.S. criminal justice system. Your support allows us to build on Eastern State’s two-century legacy and foster dialogue around essential but difficult questions with no clear answers.

Contribute to the conversation today at EasternState.org/give.

June is in the United States. We are proud to support our LGBTQIA+ staff, visitors, and friends during Pride Month and every month.

Pride is a celebration, but it also provides an opportunity to reflect on the oppression and barriers facing LGBTQIA+ people throughout history. We know that people were incarcerated at Eastern State who, today, would identify as LGBTQIA+. Learn more on our blog: https://www.easternstate.org/about-eastern-state/blog/pride-month-eastern-state

Thank you to everyone who joined us for unique tours and hands-on experiences this Memorial Day Weekend!

Summer events have just begun at ESPHS. Learn more at get your tickets for SUMMER NIGHTS today at EasternState.org/SummerNights ☀️

Spend your Memorial Day at a unique American landmark! 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of public tours at Eastern State Penitentiary. Join us today as we commemorate this occasion and reflect on the importance of military service during Eastern State’s operational years with special tours, talks, and hands-on activities.

www.EasternState.org

This Memorial Day Weekend, immerse yourself in Eastern State Penitentiary's rich history and ongoing legacy. Whether you're a history buff, preservation enthusiast, or looking for a meaningful way to honor those who served and sacrificed, Eastern State offers a unique blend of education and remembrance.

Join us as we pay tribute to our past and look forward to the future of Eastern State Penitentiary. Get your tickets today: https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/mdw2024

How does the visitor experience at ESPHS today compare to that of visitors in 1994? Learn that and more when you participate in one of our commemorative tours this weekend, celebrating 30 years of public tours at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site!

Learn more and get your tickets today: https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/mdw2024

Photo 1: Visitors to the newly opened historic site, 1994.
Photo 2: Visitors enjoy the Fair Chance Beer Garden, 2022.

Eastern State Penitentiary opened its doors in 1829 and shuttered in 1971. This means that people lived and worked in the penitentiary during the Civil War and both World Wars. How did these conflicts impact daily life at Eastern State? How did people living in the penitentiary contribute to American war efforts?

Learn that and more when you attend one of the War Effort Pop-Up Talks at ESPHS this weekend. This event is exclusive to Memorial Day Weekend, May 24-27, and is included in historic site admission. Get your tickets now: https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/mdw2024

Photo: A page of prison newspaper 'The Umpire' describing how incarcerated people contributed to the US military during World War 1, 1918.

Celebrate our 30th anniversary with us this weekend! Panel discussions will focus on the preservation of Eastern State Penitentiary in the past, present, and looking toward the future.

Interested in preservation? On May 25, learn how the Eastern State was saved the penitentiary from the wrecking ball in the 1980s with three members of the original Task Force. Or join us on May 26 to engage with the staff helming Eastern State’s current preservation efforts and visions for the future.

More inclined toward collections? Join us on May 27 to hear from the team who cares for the historic site’s collection, from the building itself to the hundreds of artifacts that tell the stories of the people who lived and worked at Eastern State.

Don't miss out on these one time only events. Get your tickets today: https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/MDW2024

May 18 is !

When Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site opened to the public in 1994, visitors were required to wear hard hats while exploring the fragile site. Walk in their footsteps this Memorial Day Weekend as you explore areas usually closed to the public, including Cellblock 14. Learn how this landmark has evolved from the world's first penitentiary to a cornerstone of criminal justice education.

Get your tickets today: https://www.easternstate.org/visit/events/MDW2024

Photo: A ticket for a public tour of ESPHS, 1994.

SUMMER NIGHTS at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site begins on Friday, June 7! ☀️ This summer, join us during exclusive evening hours to explore the profound impact of recreation on prison life through engaging talks, family-friendly activities, and interactive experiences.

Learn more: https://www.easternstate.org/summernights

Meet Briana, our new Executive Assistant and Board Liaison! Briana brings extensive experience in public service, librarian, and technical service roles, most recently at The Rosenbach Museum and Library in Philadelphia. Briana holds a Bachelor's Degree in Art History from Tyler School of Art at Temple University, a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from Pratt Institute in New York, and is currently pursuing a second Master of Science in Digital Curation and Management from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Briana hopes to use this robust educational and professional background to contribute to ESPHS's mission to forge pathways to justice and community.

Welcome to the ESPHS team, Briana!

May 15 is in the United States. Some officers passed away while on duty during the penitentiary's operational years. This included Michael Cassidy, longtime warden of the prison.

The Warden's Daily Journal entry for that day, March 14, 1900, reads: "After a long and severe illness Mr. Michael J. Cassidy, the Warden of the Penitentiary, died this morning at 10:05 am." Mr. Cassidy was sitting at his desk at the penitentiary when he passed away.

Photo 1: Warden Cassidy sitting at his desk. Date unknown.
Photo 2: The headline about Cassidy's death in the Philadelphia Inquirer, March 15, 1900.
Photo 3: The Warden's Daily Journal entry about Cassidy's passing, March 14, 1900.

Did you know that the first recorded music performance at ESPHS took place in 1864?

Music still has a notable impact on the lives of incarcerated people today. Recently, our team got the opportunity to sit down with PhillyVoice to discuss the power of music in prisons through the lens of our archival collection. Learn more in the attached article.

Before Eastern State Penitentiary closed, music by the prison's inmate band delighted radio audiences A trophy cup in the museum's archives tells the story of the carceral program led by a onetime first-chair violinist with the Philadelphia Orchestra.

May 12 is in the United States. Many visitors wonder: how many people gave birth while incarcerated at Eastern State? How long were these children allowed to stay at the prison?

At least 33 people gave birth to children while incarcerated at the penitentiary: one person gave birth to twins. All but one of the incarcerated people arrived at the penitentiary already pregnant, according to the wardens.

We estimate that infants born at Eastern State were allowed to stay with their mothers for several months to several years. On March 31, 1907, the warden noted that Laura Irons (B-2904), discharged from the prison, took with her the child of a fellow incarcerated person, Essie Pollett (B-3185, pictured), who had given birth to a baby girl six months earlier.

We’re not sure how these children were treated during their time at Eastern State. We do know that at least one infant was circumcised at the prison, and at least one infant was baptized at the prison.