With Halloween just a day away I thought it would be fun to post some photos of one of the creepiest places that I’ve visited in the United States.
I first heard about Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, PA on a travel TV show years back and always wanted to visit. Kim and I stopped by a few years ago and were amazed by what we saw.
The main reason I had heard about Eastern State was due to their nighttime tour called Terror Behind the Walls. It is only offered for a limited time out of the year right around Halloween.
According to their website, “Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world”. It is now in a state of “semi-ruin” due to being abandonded for many years. Luckily it’s been saved for people to come check out for themselves.
It was “the world’s first true “penitentiary,” a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts”.
Only certain sections of the penitentiary were open for us to visit. I assumed that the areas were closed for fear of parts of the buildings falling down. (Maybe that’s me getting creative but it sure did look that way in some corridors.)
There is a creepy feel in the air while you wander around and learn about the history of Eatern State. We first checked out the penitentiary on our own before joining a (included) guided tour.
We learned all about the penitentiary as well as the conditions inmates faced while there. While walking around the grounds on our tour, we even got to see the baseball field.
Possibly the most famous inmate to ever call Eastern State home was gangster Al Capone.
His cell was (I’m guessing) restored to look how it did when he spent time at the penitentiary.
The restored synagogue was another interesting place to see. It was hard to believe that we were even in a penitentiary.
When we left Eastern State I decided to jump for joy for once again being a free man!
Have you or would you visit a prison while on vacation?
What’s the creepiest or scaries site that you’ve visited around the world?
Find out more about Eastern State Penitentiary and book your tickets for a visit here.
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Jenifer- The Ohio State Reformatory sounds great! I’ve been to a few other prisons but Eastern State has got to be the best one so far!
FreeTravelGuys- The barbershop doesn’t stand out. Was it a room you peek into? I want to visit again and will have to keep an eye out for it!
I visited back in 2009. Very cool place to see. I liked the barbershop with it’s old style chair and all the almost rusted away utensils like old razors, scissors and shaving cream. I didn’t see the sinagoge. Not sure if it was restored 5 years ago. Nice place to visit.
Jealous! I am just returning from central Ohio and wanted to tour The Ohio State Reformatory (filming site for The Shawshank Redemption) but it’s closed for the winter season. I love stuff like this!!!