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.
Additionally open Saturdays, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. June 20 through August 1st for Summer Nights.
Although Eastern State is open on July 4th, Summer Nights does not run that evening.
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:
Summer Nights
Every Saturday from June 20th through August 1st, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
Please note: Although Eastern State will be open on July 4th, Summer Nights will not run on this evening.
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
Thursday, January 01 - Thursday, December 31, 2026
A yearlong slate of free, inclusive programs exploring the evolving meanings of liberty and justice in America.
The Aaron Reichlin Restorative Justice and Faith Conversations
Thursday, January 01 - Thursday, December 31, 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.
Finding Freedom Civic Season
Monday, May 25, 2026
All Day
As we commemorate the 250th anniversary of American independence, Eastern State invites visitors to explore the history and legacy of one of America’s most influential prisons to reflect on the how the past informs our shared future.
Summer Nights
Saturday, June 20 - Saturday, August 01, 2026
Saturday evenings June 20 to August 1, except July 4. 6 PM to 9 PM, last entry 8 PM. $10. Pay-What-You-Wish Night June 27. Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site opens its gates this summer for Summer Nights! With a different theme each week, Summer Nights provide a fun and meaningful night out—combining history, culture, and entertainment in a one-of-a-kind setting.
Summer Nights: On the Big Screen Night
Saturday, July 18, 2026
6:00pm - 9:00pm
$10. Let’s go to the movies! Learn about the history of film at Eastern State and examine its impact on our understanding of the justice system today.
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Summer Nights: Adult Field Day & Sports Night
Saturday, July 25, 2026
6:00pm - 9:00pm
$10. Baseball, boxing, bocce, and more— get up and moving with us and learn about the power of sports and recreation in fostering a sense of belonging throughout Eastern State Penitentiary's history and in prisons today.
Summer Nights: Art & Resistance Night
Saturday, August 01, 2026
6:00pm - 9:00pm
$10. Learn about the role that art and ingenuity played at Eastern State from the healing power of painting to the resourcefulness of unique escape plans. Plus, consider the continued impact of art as resistance today. Image: Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration, © 2024, Mark Loughney. Presented in Collaboration by Mural Arts Philadelphia and Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.
August 2026: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion
Saturday, August 08, 2026
12:30pm - 1:15pm
Subject to availability. Purchase tickets online to secure your spot. An Eastern State educator leads a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion in partnership with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter from Hands UP Productions.
September 2026: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion
Sunday, September 06, 2026
12:30pm - 1:15pm
Subject to availability. Purchase tickets online to secure your spot. An Eastern State educator leads a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion in partnership with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter from Hands UP Productions.
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Democracy for all Week: Freedom of Expression: Journalism, Art and Justice
Thursday, September 17 - Monday, September 21, 2026
Enjoy a series of programs that explore the intersection of the First Amendment, freedom of expression through art, and incarceration.
Constitution Day: The Justice System in America Today
Thursday, September 17, 2026
All Day
This Constitution Day, we celebrate and reflect on the role of the First Amendment in securing freedom and liberty for all. Join us for this deep dive into prison journalism, art, and free expression for those who are not free. Image: Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration, © 2024, Mark Loughney. Presented in Collaboration by Mural Arts Philadelphia and Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site.
CollegeFest 2026
Sunday, September 20, 2026
11:00am - 2:30pm
Free daytime admission* for Campus Philly CollegeFest registrants. *Please note, a $1 service fee applies to each ticket. Timed tickets required. Students, sign up for CollegeFest and enjoy free daytime admission to Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site!
52 Weeks of Firsts
Saturday, October 03, 2026
11:00am - 1:00pm
With soaring stone walls and a radical design, Eastern State Penitentiary created the philosophy of America’s first true penitentiary. Walk the halls where history was made, and experience the human stories of early prison systems.
New Exhibit Opening!
Sunday, November 01, 2026
All Day
Details to come, check back for updates.
Justice 101: Friendship, Support, and Reentry
Sunday, November 01, 2026
All Day
Details to come, check back for updates.
Closed for Thanksgiving
Thursday, November 26, 2026
All Day
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is closed for Thanksgiving. We resume normal hours on Friday.
Closed for Christmas Eve and Christmas Day
Friday, December 25, 2026
All Day
Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site is closed December 24 and 25. We resume normal hours on December 26.