America's Most Historic Prison
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 once held many of America's most notorious lawbreakers, including "Slick Willie" Sutton and "Scarface" Al Capone.
Healthy & Safety
The health and safety of our staff and visitors remains our top priority. Learn more about mask requirements and other measures we have in place to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
NOW OPEN!
Night Tours: Summer Twilight
Explore Eastern State as the sun goes down. Enjoy The Fair Chance Beer Garden and engage with hands-on activities. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings, May 7 through September 4.
Give Today
Preserve our past. Invest in the future. Help us craft a long-term strategy to preserve Eastern State's iconic perimeter walls and expand our masonry restoration training programs.
May 12, 2021, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Free Admission Day for Hospital Workers
Free Daytime Admission for Hospital Workers. In honor of National Hospital Week, we’re inviting hospital workers to visit Eastern State — and bring a guest — for free! Learn more
What We're Reading This Week
Forgetting And Forgotten: Older Prisoners Seek Release But Fall Through The Cracks, NPR, May 11, 2021
Instagram of the Week
Share your best Eastern State photos on Instagram for a chance to be featured! Photo by @elusivehydra.
