Who was the first inmate of the Eastern State Penitentiary?
The Eastern State Penitentiary's first inmate was a farmer convicted of theft, Charles Williams. Guards escorted him inside the building with a hood placed over his head which became common practice for two reasons: for one, it protected William's anonymity, and two, it prevented his escape as he would not see the prison's layout.
Who are some famous people who have been incarcerated?
Another famous inmate was the notorious bank robber Willie Sutton. Called "Slick Willie" for his ability to rip-off banks politely, he was also known for many convincing disguises. Sutton escaped Eastern State Penitentiary — along with 11 others — by means of a tunnel on April 3, 1945.
What was the purpose of the Eastern State Penitentiary?
The opening of Eastern State Penitentiary in 1829 heralded a new dawn for prisons across the world. Designed to revolutionise incarceration, Eastern State Penitentiary was segregated. Prisoners spent most of their days in solitary confinement in an attempt to encourage reflection and rehabilitation.
What was the first penitentiary in the world?
Designed by John Haviland and opened on October 25, 1829, Eastern State is considered to be the world's first true penitentiary. Eastern State's revolutionary system of incarceration, dubbed the "Pennsylvania system" or separate system, encouraged separate confinement as a form of rehabilitation.
Why is Eastern State Penitentiary so famous?
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.
Who was kept at Eastern State Penitentiary?
The prison was one of the largest public-works projects of the early republic, and was a tourist destination in the 19th century. Notable visitors included Charles Dickens and Alexis de Tocqueville, and later notable inmates included Willie Sutton and Al Capone in 1929.
Who was the most famous prisoner?
He was returned to prison in 1988 after being convicted of planning another robbery. He is known as a violent inmate, and has taken numerous hostages in the course of confrontations with guards, resulting in his sentence later being changed to life imprisonment....Charles Bronson (prisoner)Charles BronsonCriminal penaltyLife imprisonment9 more rows
Who was the first prisoner in Eastern State Penitentiary?
Charles Williams1829 October 25 Eastern State Penitentiary opens. Its first inmate: "... Charles Williams, Prisoner Number One. Burglar.
What cell was Al Capone in at Eastern State Penitentiary?
Park AvenueAl Capone was one of the best-known inmates to have served time in the prison. From 1929 to 1930, the Chicago gangster Al Capone served eight months at Eastern State for concealing a weapon. His cell was dubbed "Park Avenue" because he enjoyed more luxuries than the other inmates did.
What famous prisoners are in Florence Colorado?
Organized crime figuresInmate nameRegister numberJeff Fort92298-024O. G. Mack30063-037Kaboni Savage58232-066Joaquín "El Chapo" Guzmán89914-0538 more rows
Did Al Capone stay at Eastern Penitentiary?
After being caught with a concealed deadly weapon outside a local movie theater, Capone spent eight months behind Eastern State Penitentiary's stone walls. However, Capone's stay 100 years after the prison opened, was far cushier than his comrades before him.
Who broke out of Eastern State Penitentiary?
Leo Callahan Callahan was the only inmate to successfully escape Eastern State Penitentiary out of well over 100 who tried. Incarcerated for assault and battery with intent to kill, Callahan and 5 other inmates scaled the 30-foot east wall of the prison with a homemade ladder.
Who was the most feared man in Alcatraz?
Robert Stroud, a.k.a. the 'Bird Man' of Alcatraz By the time Robert Stroud was transferred to Alcatraz in 1942, he had already established himself as one of the most dangerous—and notorious—prisoners in America, with a rap sheet already decades long.
Was Al Capone at Alcatraz?
To Americans of the 1920s and '30s, he was the notorious gangster Scarface Al, Public Enemy No. 1. But when he arrived at Alcatraz in late August of 1934, Alphonse “Al” Capone took on a more humbling name: Prisoner 85.
Did Eastern State Penitentiary have a death row?
The last cell block to be built, it was the only one with electric doors. Though the prison housed those on “death row,” no executions ever took place at the prison.
How scary is the Eastern State Penitentiary?
The prison, which closed in 1971, is considered by several sources to be one of the most haunted places in America. It has been featured on the Travel Channel's Ghost Adventures and Most Haunted Live, Syfy's Ghost Hunters and MTV's Fear.
Al Capone
Perhaps America’s most notorious gangster of the 20th century, Al ‘Scarface’ Capone spent his first-ever prison spell at Eastern State Penitentiary where he was incarcerated for 7 months in 1929-30 after being found guilty of carrying and concealing a deadly weapon.
Leo Callahan
Callahan was the only inmate to successfully escape Eastern State Penitentiary out of well over 100 who tried. Incarcerated for assault and battery with intent to kill, Callahan and 5 other inmates scaled the 30-foot east wall of the prison with a homemade ladder.
Samuel Barlow
Believed to be Eastern State Penitentiary’s last death-row inmate, Barlow was incarcerated as a teenager for his role in the 1968 robbery of the Dauphin Deposit Trust Co., which he acted as a lookout for.
Where is Eastern State Penitentiary?
Designated NHL. June 23, 1965. Designated PHMC. May 2, 1996. The Eastern State Penitentiary, also known as ESP, is a former American prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located at 2027 Fairmount Avenue between Corinthian Avenue and North 22nd Street in the Fairmount section of the city, and was operational from 1829 until 1971.
What is the name of the haunted attraction in Eastern State Penitentiary?
Fake gargoyle on the exterior of the Eastern State Penitentiary for the Halloween -themed "Terror Behind the Walls" haunted attraction. Due to its ominous appearance, gloomy atmosphere, and long history, Eastern State has been used as a location for television programs and films about hauntings.
How many prisoners did Haviland prison house?
Once construction of the prison was completed in 1836, it could house 450 prisoners. Haviland completed the architecture of the Eastern state penitentiary in 1836.
What is the terror behind the walls?
Terror Behind the Walls. "Terror Behind the Walls" is an annual Haunted House Halloween event run by the Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc. (ESPHS). The first Halloween fundraiser took place on Halloween weekend in 1991.
What was the first penitentiary in the world?
History. Designed by John Haviland and opened on October 25, 1829, Eastern State is considered to be the world's first true penitentiary. Eastern State's revolutionary system of incarceration, dubbed the "Pennsylvania system" or separate system, encouraged separate confinement as a form of rehabilitation.
What was the Eastern State system of incarceration called?
Eastern State's revolutionary system of incarceration, dubbed the "Pennsylvania system" or separate system, encouraged separate confinement as a form of rehabilitation. The warden was legally required to visit every inmate every day, and the overseers were mandated to see each inmate three times a day.
How often are toilets flushed in Eastern State Penitentiary?
Toilets were remotely flushed twice a week by the guards of the cellblock. One of the two-story cell blocks in Eastern State Penitentiary. The original design of the building was for seven one-story cell blocks, but by the time cell block three was completed, the prison was already over capacity.
What are some interesting facts about Eastern State Penitentiary?
When the prison was completed in 1829, it was the largest building in the United States. The original floor plan of Eastern state penitentiary. 2. Due to multiple reports of paranormal activity , Eastern State is considered one of the most haunted places in the world. 3.
When was Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia closed?
In operation from 1829 to 1971, Eastern State Penitentiary in North Philadelphia hosted thousands of prisoners. Untold human suffering occurred inside these gloomy grey walls. Starting in the 1940s and escalating after its closure, the prison is the site of countless reports of paranormal activity.
Where did Al Capone stay?
Al Capone who stayed in Eastern State Penitentiary. 23. Notorious Chicago gangster Al Capone stayed at Eastern State in 1929. As the rumor goes, the haunted prison saw him “transformed into a weeping and terrified mess who would send out bloodcurdling screams at night, shouting for ‘Jimmy’ to ‘leave him alone.’.
When did Eastern State prison close?
22. Eastern State became a National Historic Landmark in 1965. It finally closed in 1971 and was reopened as a tourist destination in the 1990s.
Who killed the cat in Eastern State?
26. In 1942, Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot, whose cat had allegedly been killed by a dog named Pep, sentenced the dog to life imprisonment at Eastern State. The dog even had a mug shot taken and a prisoner number assigned. Photo by Thesab of the main gate. 27. The prison’s stone façade is twenty inches thick.
How thick is the prison façade?
The prison’s stone façade is twenty inches thick. 28. Prison reformers envisioned Eastern State as an alternative to crowded, dangerous prisons where rape and abuse was rampant. Instead, by confining prisoners to their own cells, they were to spend time reflecting on their crimes and feel remorse.
Where is Eastern State Penitentiary?
Located in the Fairmount section of Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary remains one of the most famous prisons in the world, with a list of former inmates that includes bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton and legendary gangster Al Capone.
When did Eastern State prison close?
After 142 years in use, Eastern State finally closed its doors as a prison in 1971. It has since been named a National Historic Landmark. Jump To.
What was Eastern State's goal?
In its day, Eastern State set the standard for penal reform, with its soaring, castle-like Gothic architecture and its founders’ Quaker-inspired belief that solitary confinement could help reform criminals.
Is it necessary to wear a mask at Eastern State Penitentiary?
Mask-wearing and advance tickets or reservations remain recommended or necessary at many spots, and masking remains a requirement for partially vaccinated and unvaccinated people. Your best bet: Check online or call ahead. When Eastern State Penitentiary opened in 1829, spectators from around the world marveled at its grand architecture ...
Who was the bank robber who escaped Eastern State Penitentiary?
Another famous inmate was the notorious bank robber Willie Sutton. Called "Slick Willie" for his ability to rip-off banks politely, he was also known for many convincing disguises. Sutton escaped Eastern State Penitentiary — along with 11 others — by means of a tunnel on April 3, 1945.
Where is Eastern State Penitentiary?
Like this gallery? Eastern State Penitentiary is a former American prison located at 2027 Fairmount Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
What was the purpose of the penitentiary?
The Penitentiary was meant to revolutionize the prison system and actually inspire penance in its inmates through solitary confinement. But this didn't happen between overcrowding and corrupt guards. inmyeyes88/Flickr. The prison featured seven wings of individual cellblocks, meant to contain a single inmate at a time.
Why was the Eastern State Penitentiary important?
But the prison wasn't just known for its towering spires and its resume of inmates; the Eastern State Penitentiary was notable because it was supposed to be the first true prison to inspire penance in criminals.
What was the name of the gangster in the prison?
The prison housed both men and women, and perhaps the most famous gangster in history, Al Capone. He was sentenced for a year in 1929 on a gun charge and was released two months early for good behavior. A replica of Capone's cell in the Penitentiary appears lavish.
How long did prisoners spend in isolation?
Prisoners would spend up to 23 hours in total isolation, save for the guards and overseers. Prisoners were never meant to interact with one another. When the Eastern State Penitentiary opened in 1829, it proved to be a marvel of design. It had central heating and running water in each of the cells.
When did Pennsylvania close Eastern State Penitentiary?
Following a 1961 prison riot that took hours to quell, the state of Pennsylvania began to consider closing down Eastern State Penitentiary. For one thing, the Penitentiary was initially built on farmland, but by this time, Philadelphia had expanded so that middle-class homes surrounded the prison.
History
This prison holds a special place in history. It opened in 1829 as the world’s first penitentiary where prisoners were kept in isolation. This prison was built with the grand idea of evoking repentance in the hearts of the prisoners instead of only punishing them.
Overview
Eastern State is located in Fairmount, the area immediately north of center city and near the art museum. From the courtyard, you can see the towering skyscrapers of the Philadelphia skyline. The ruins of the penitentiary, now a National Historic Landmark, showcase an important and bleak phase in American history.
The Self-Guided Tour
The Eastern State Penitentiary tour is extremely popular tour with both tourists and locals. The abandoned prison is a unique tourist site that lures visitors with its creepy ruins, history, and famous inmates. And visitors report eerie feelings as they walk through the cell blocks and grounds.
Famous Inmates
This penitentiary had its own share of glory. It housed famous criminals like gangster Al Capone and bank robber Slick Willie Sutton.
Halloween Nigh Tour
Yearning for goosebumps? If you want to ‘feel’ the creepiness of the prison, go for the night tours. These tours will make your blood curl as you pass through the dimly lit cells at night. The broken walls and dim arches create a scary feeling that is hard to describe.
Overview
The Eastern State Penitentiary, also known as ESP, is a former American prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is located at 2027 Fairmount Avenue between Corinthian Avenue and North 22nd Street in the Fairmount section of the city, and was operational from 1829 until 1971. The penitentiary refined the revolutionary system of separate incarceration first pioneered at the Walnut Street Jail which …
History
Designed by John Haviland and opened on October 25, 1829, Eastern State is considered to be the world's first true penitentiary. Eastern State's revolutionary system of incarceration, dubbed the "Pennsylvania system" or separate system, encouraged separate confinement as a form of rehabilitation. The warden was legally required to visit every inmate every day, and the overseers were mandat…
Architectural significance
When the Eastern State Penitentiary, or Cherry Hill as it was known at the time, was erected in 1829 in Francisville (the idea of this new prison was created in a meeting held at Benjamin Franklin's house in 1787) it was the largest and most expensive public structure in the country. Its architectural significance first arose in 1821, when British architect John Haviland was chosen to design the b…
Modern-day historic site
The Eastern State Penitentiary operates as a museum and historic site, open year-round. Guided tours as well as self-guided audio tours (narrated mainly by Steve Buscemi, with former guards, wardens and prisoners also contributing) are available. A scavenger hunt is available for children.
Visitors are allowed to walk into several specially marked solitary confinemen…
Cultural references
Due to its ominous appearance, gloomy atmosphere, and long history, Eastern State has been used as a location for television programs and films about hauntings. Paranormal TV shows like Ghost Hunters, Ghost Adventures, BuzzFeed Unsolved and MTV's Fear explored the paranormal at Eastern State. Eastern State was also used in an episode of Cold Case titled "The House" which dealt with a …
See also
• List of National Historic Landmarks in Philadelphia
• National Register of Historic Places listings in North Philadelphia
Further reading
• Manion, Jen. Liberty's Prisoners: Carceral Culture in Early America 2015, University of Pennsylvania Press
• Boyd, Bruce "King of the Mountain: The Bruno Family Story" 2016 Ingram Press
External links
• Official website
• Historic American Buildings Survey (HABS) No. PA-1729, "Eastern State Penitentiary", 161 photos, 15 color transparencies, 94 data pages, 14 photo caption pages