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Events

  • November 8, 2024 – November 11, 2024

    Veterans' Day Weekend at ESPHS

    Included with admission. Spend your Veterans' Day Weekend at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site! Learn more about veterans and the criminal justice system with a special themed pop-up exhibit, pop-up talks, and video screening.

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  • November 12, 2024, 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm

    Justice 101: Understanding Restorative Justice

    Free. In person at Eastern State. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Join us as we discuss the dynamics of restorative justice practices and highlight the role of restorative justice in the quest for a more humane and just society.

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  • November 14, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

    Public Tour with Artist Talk

    On November 14 at 12 pm, join us at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site for a special iteration of our Guide-Led Tour & Discussion featuring a Q&A with Mark Loughney.

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  • November 17, 2024, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm

    In-Person Scout Day: Architecture

    SOLD OUT — BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about the penitentiary's history, its unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.

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  • November 19, 2024, 5:30 pm – 6:30 pm

    Dedication Event: "Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration" by Mark Loughney

    Free. In person at Eastern State. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Join us as we celebrate the dedication of "Pyrrhic Defeat: A Visual Study of Mass Incarceration," a new mural by Mark Loughney, now on view at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site. Presented in partnership with Mural Arts Philadelphia and Loughney Art.

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  • November 30, 2024, 11:00 am – 11:45 am

    November 2024: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion

    Included with admission, 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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  • November 30, 2024, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

    Public Portrait Session with Mark Loughney

    Want to be included in "Pyrrhic Defeat"? The artist, Mark Loughney, will be sketching portraits of historic site visitors on Saturday, November 30 from 12 to 4 pm near his piece.

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  • December 8, 2024, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

    Free Neighbor Day: December 2024

    We invite our neighbors residing in the 19130 and 19121 zip codes to visit free of charge every second Sunday of the month. No reservations required!

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  • December 11, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

    Justice 101: Fourth Amendment in the Digital Age: Privacy, Policing, and Constitutional Rights

    Free. Online. Advance registration required. Join us as we delve into the complexities surrounding the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures in today’s rapidly evolving digital and social landscape.

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  • December 14, 2024, 11:00 am – 2:15 pm

    Virtual Scout Day: Architecture

    $17 per participant. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about Eastern State's history, the penitentiary's unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.

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  • December 27, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm

    Public Tour with Artist Talk

    On December 27 at 12 pm, join us at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site for a special iteration of our Guide-Led Tour & Discussion featuring a Q&A with Mark Loughney.

    Read more



  • December 28, 2024, 11:00 am – 11:45 am

    December 2024: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion

    Included with admission, 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.

    Read more



  • December 28, 2024, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm

    Public Portrait Session with Mark Loughney

    Want to be included in "Pyrrhic Defeat"? The artist, Mark Loughney, will be sketching portraits of historic site visitors on Saturday, December 28 from 12 to 4 pm near his piece.

    Read more



  • January 23, 2025

    Justice 101: The Evolution of Civil Rights: Criminal Justice Reform and Mass Incarceration

    Free. Online. Advance registration required. Join us as we explore the historical roots and ongoing evolution of civil rights movements, with a particular focus on criminal justice reform and mass incarceration in America.

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  • February 20, 2025

    Justice 101: Is Freedom of the Press Truly Free Behind Bars? The First Amendment and Journalism in Prison

    Free. Online Join us as we discuss the complex and often contentious relationship between the First Amendment and journalism within the prison system as well as the broader implications of press freedom in prison for society’s understanding of justice, rehabilitation, and human rights. 

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  • March 27, 2025

    Justice 101: The History of Women in Prison and the Legacy of Freedom Fighters

    Free. In person - location TBA. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Join us as we explore the complex and often untold history of women in the American prison system, focusing not only on the evolution of female incarceration but also on the legacy of women who fought for freedom and justice from behind bars.

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  • April 24, 2025

    Justice 101: The History of Solitary Confinement in America

    Free. In person at Eastern State. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Join us as we discuss the origins of solitary confinement in the United States — beginning with the establishment of the first penitentiaries, explore how the practice shifted over time, and consider the ongoing debate about the role of solitary confinement in the modern prison system. and its use in prisons today.

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  • April 27, 2025, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm

    In-Person Scout Day: Architecture

    $21 per person. Advance registration required. BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about the penitentiary's history, its unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.

    Read more



  • May 22, 2025

    Justice 101: The Evolution of Capital Punishment and Ongoing Legal Battles

    Free. In person – location TBA. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Join us to explore the contentious and deeply impactful history of the death penalty in America, tracing its origins, evolution, and the modern legal battles that continue to shape its future.

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  • November 15, 2025, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm

    In-Person Scout Day: Architecture

    $21 per person. Advance registration required. BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about the penitentiary's history, its unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.

    Read more



  • December 7, 2025, 11:00 am – 2:15 pm

    Virtual Scout Day: Architecture

    $17 per participant. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about Eastern State's history, the penitentiary's unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.

    Read more



2017 American Aliance of Museums Excellence in Exhibitions Overall Winner