Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is open to visitors year-round. Below you’ll find the latest information regarding our hours of operation, including any notices regarding unexpected closures or delays. All hours of operation are subject to change.
Current Hours of Operation
Open daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Seasonal & Holiday Schedule
- January – February: Open Wednesday – Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
- March – November: Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- December 1 – 22: Open Wednesday – Monday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Closed Tuesdays.
- December 23 – 31: Open Daily, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
The historic site is closed on New Year’s Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Eve, and Christmas Day.
Special Event Hours
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site also operates select evening events throughout the year:
Halloween Nights
Select evenings, October through November. Dates to be announced in late summer.
LEARN MOREPlanning a visit to Eastern State?
Explore, visit, and gain perspective as you walk the preserved historic grounds—plus get details on what to bring, where to go, and how to make the most of your visit
Know Before You GoUpcoming Historic Site Events
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A Time for Liberty: Our Shared History, Our Shared Future
Sunday, November 01 - Thursday, December 31, 2026
A yearlong slate of free, inclusive programs exploring the evolving meanings of liberty and justice in America.
Winter Festival of Independence and Natural Rights
Sunday, November 01, 2026
4:00pm - 4:00pm
Included with admission.
Our nation’s founders, and the founders of Eastern State Penitentiary, asserted through documents like the Declaration of Independence that every person had natural-born rights like life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness. But what does that look like—and are those rights truly protected—within America’s criminal justice system? Reflect on this pressing question by taking part in special, all-ages programming included with historic site admission.
Veterans Day
Saturday, November 07, 2026
All Day
Spend your Veterans Day Weekend learning more about veterans and the criminal justice system through limited-time, family-friendly programs including a veterans and wartime pop-up exhibit, World War I at Eastern State pop-up talk, and video screening about veterans and the justice system today.
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Land of the Free Preview Celebration
Wednesday, November 18, 2026
5:30pm - 8:00pm
Free. In Person & Online. Advance registration required.
Join us to celebrate the opening of Land of the Free by Cody Stuhltrager, the inaugural artist-in-residence for ReVision: Art and Justice. The evening will include a panel discussion anchored by the piece—featuring the artist in conversation with subject matter experts in law, art, and justice—plus musical and spoken word performances, a reception with light refreshments, and the chance to be among the first to view the exhibit.
Remarks by Christina Vassallo (Executive Director, The Pew Center for Arts & Heritage), Jane Golden (Founder, Mural Arts Philadelphia), Matthew Lee (Partner, Fox Rothschild LLP; Board Chair, Eastern State) and Lauren Zalut (Partnerships & Arts Program Steward, Eastern State).
Panel featuring Cody Stuhltrager (Artist-in-Residence, ReVision: Art and Justice; creator of Land of the Free) and Bianca Tylek (Author, The Prison Industry: How It Works and Who Profits; Founder and Executive Director, Worth Rises).
Live performances by Miles Orion Butler (musician; Co-Founder, Songs in the Key of Free) and Ursula Rucker (poet, recording artist, and activist).
Closed for Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 26, 2026
All Day
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is closed for Thanksgiving. We resume normal hours on Friday.
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Thanksgiving Weekend: The Power of Play: Sports and Belonging
Friday, November 27, 2026
All Day
Join us this Thanksgiving Weekend to learn more about the power of sports in fostering a sense of belonging throughout Eastern State Penitentiary's history and in correctional facilities today. Enjoy family-friendly programming like a scavenger hunt, "home run hits" on the historic baseball field, and sports-themed tours and talks.
RockyFest - 50th Anniversary!
Thursday, December 03, 2026
All Day
Celebrate the anniversary of Philadelphia’s most iconic film franchise with a city-wide series of events, including special programming at ESPHS highlighting the history of boxing in prison.
The Aaron Reichlin Restorative Justice and Faith Conversations
Wednesday, December 09 - Wednesday, December 09, 2026
Made possible in part by a generous grant from The Reichlin and Tuck Families, this series brings together scholarship, performance, and dialogue to examine how faith traditions foster community, sustain people through and after incarceration, and inform conversations about reentry and justice reform.
Shared Light: Winter Celebrations
Sunday, December 20, 2026
All Day
This holiday season, learn how people at Eastern State Penitentiary marked winter celebrations like Hanukkah, Christmas, and New Year’s Day—finding moments of light, connection, and meaning within the confines of prison life. Plus, reflect on how people observe holidays while incarcerated in prisons today. Enjoy limited-time, family-friendly programming like card making, story sharing, a scavenger hunt, and special guide-led tours.
Closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Thursday, December 24, 2026
All Day
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is closed December 24 and 25. We resume normal hours on December 26.