Tucked away in a small building near the center of the penitentiary is unique evidence of a prisoner’s faith – the murals that distinguish the Catholic Chaplain’s Office. Inmate Lester Smith painted them in 1955 and used the signature “Paul Martin” to honor his two favorite saints. Smith was a self-taught artist who had converted to Catholicism in prison before coming to Eastern State. When Father Edwin Gallagher, Eastern State’s Catholic Chaplain, witnessed Smith painting, he invited him to apply his talents and passion to enhance the Catholic Chaplain’s Office. Smith covered nearly every available space of the walls with Catholic imagery. Most striking is the kneeling prisoner seeking reconciliation through confession. This image speaks to the depth of Lester Smith’s faith.

These beautiful murals remain a moving testament to the story of one inmate who underwent a powerful change while in prison. It is our goal to save the paintings so we can share them with our visitors, now more than 100,000 annually.

Prevention of the irrevocable loss of original building material by protecting vulnerable roofs from further damage.

The small, sunny Solarium above Eastern State Penitentiary's hospital block tells the story of a prison system struggling to keep a deadly disease under control. 

A new roof for the Solarium has stabilized the structure and also allowed the roofing restoration of the Hospital block below to move forward.”

There are a surprising number of “eyewitnesses” to Eastern State Penitentiary’s history, but time is running out to preserve their memories.

Interviews with former inmates, guards, and staff are essential to understanding what day-to-day life was like at the prison. We have recorded the stories of some of these eyewitnesses, but more than two hundred remain.

Critical stabilization of exterior walls, waterproofing and restoration of roof and skylights, and selective conservation of interior masonry, plasterwork and furnishings.

A careful archeological investigation of the famous 1945 escape tunnel.

Stabilization of the concrete base and restoration of the roofing structure of the Penitentiary greenhouse.

Critical stabilization of the roofs over the Operating and Recovery rooms, protecting these important spaces and allowing for the future restoration and interpretation of the Hospital Block.

Critical stabilization of a free-standing building on the western side of the complex. The building offers both conference and exhibit space, and holds income potential through rentals.

Replacing the roofs over the Rotunda and the links to each of the original seven cellblocks.

Dramatic new lighting illuminating the Penitentiary's 30 foot high half mile long perimeter wall. The lights highlight Eastern State's forbidding façade every night.

In May of 2002, Helen K. Diemer, FIALD and the design team from The Lighting Practice won an Illumination Design Award from the Philadelphia Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society for the lighting of Eastern State Penitentiary.

Funded by: Commonwealth Department of Community and Economic Development ($250,000), 2000 Halloween Fundraiser ($50,000)

Improvements throughout the site to prepare for an enhanced Terror Behind the Walls event, with greater fundraising potential. Including a new Green Room for actors (asbestos abatement, $6,700; roofing stabilization, $8,450; masonry repairs $4,050;) perimeter wall stabilization ($2,500), pavement repair ($10,233), handicap ramps ($3,840), drain cleaning ($1,325) and netting for a hard hat free tour ($7,677).

Funded by 2000 Halloween Fundraiser

Restoration and interpretation of two period cells for use on our tour route. The inmates illustrate the ways in which Eastern State changed throughout its 142 year history.

Refurbished the former cell of Al Capone with Art Deco and Victorian furniture popular in the late 1920s.

Third roofing project removed the old metal roofing, evaluated the historic wooden roofing system, replacing deteriorated members, installed a new standing seam lead-coated copper roof, and conserved the historic plasters below. Illustrated the long-range goal of finishing the interior of the building a "stabilized ruin."

Second roofing project placed a new structure over the existing roof, skylights and exercise yard areas. The new roof has twenty-five year EPDM roofing.

First roofing project to repair the substructure and place a 25-year EPDM roof over the historic Administration Building.

Funded by the City of Philadelphia