Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc Review

Go here, it's well worth the price of admission! Unless you're going at specific time go early as it got a bit crowded as we were leaving around mid-day. The narrators on the audio tour were awesome.

Been here twice now, and there's not a whole lot to love about it, a truly historical museum. Known to house the infamous Al Capone whose former cell is decorated to the way it was during his incarceration here. Not to mention a very vivid permanent exhibit of the notorious escape of the "Slick" Willie Sutton. The staff are very friendly, however being an abandoned prison, bathroom facilities are limited to Port-a-potties, despite which still tops my favorite overall museums

Very cool place, incredible photo opportunities there and very eerie yet peaceful

We visited in 2014. I did not get to see any ghosts but the whole experience was amazing. The Audio tour was very informative and was not rushed at all. There were certain parts of the inside where you got an actual tour guide, like in the medical ward. Our guide there was great. The place is falling apart in several parts but for what you can tour, I really enjoyed it. I could of spent a whole lot more time. I loved my visit there. It was poring rain and freezing cold but I wouldn't trade it.

Historical place. So huge. Around Halloween, very good haunted is taken here.

Awesome place to go for Holloween celebration. Terror Behind the Walls is amazing.

This was my first time coming here and will be my last. Not only was it boring, it was so short that even the bus ride from the parking to there was longer. There website surely made it seem like these "6 attractions" were a big deal, but in reality they were 1 hallway per attraction. The actors were lame along with the overall set up. For paying $35, and plus $13 for parking was surely a waste of $$. I probably could've watched a horror movie in its place and get more of a thrill than here. They crammed as much people they could per attraction when they should've had a limited # amount of people per entry. But then again its all about business these days so of course they would over charge you, and push as many people through. And the thing that blew my mind the most, was how they take a picture of your group blood stained and actually printed them out then expected you to pay $20 a picture or $30 for both picture sets. So those who don't buy it, they just throw them away. To me that is a waste of ink. photo quality paper and most of all $$. Will never come back to this crappy place ever again.

Went there for their halloween haunted house and it was amazing! They put on a terrifying show. You can get an option where the haunted house actors can interact with you and make it much scarier. It's also a very interesting place to visit during the day too! Lots of cool facts in the museum.

This place is amazing. As of may2019 price is cheap, $16 in person or $14 online/digital for adults. Must see for anyone local or just visiting. Spent a couple hours in here and still didnt get through all of the Steve Buccimi voiced audio tracks. I'll defo be coming back again o finish the rest!

Very interesting and a great audio tour. The standard audio tour is great but there are tons of supplemental audio stops as well. Be prepared to spend at least two hours to see everything.

Great place to learn about the origins of the Penitentiary system in America. Features Al Capone s cell and much more. Just bring a coat in cold weather.

Excellent site for photographers especially natural lighting.

Went on the guided tour. Great interactive tour guide who knew what they were doing and informative. There were a lot of people there. Didn t get to see or hear any paranormal activity which is what I would have been more interested in

I had so much fun wondering around and taking photos! Lots of interesting information to take in. Plenty of staff dispersed through out the grounds.

Awesomely creepy old prison. A fascinating piece of American history. Facility is well preserved and well curated. And the Halloween haunted house is genuinely frightening and truly memorable.

Hands down, one of the best "museums" I have ever been to. The audio tour was incredible. Highly recommended, must-see.

Pro:
-Fantastic monster (actors) really believable
-Cool visual effects
-Really scary ambiance
-Has "monster be good" option
-they add a new haunted house section each year

Cons:
-Only has startle scares (during night)*
-wish museum section were larger

*in morning there is audio tour that is much scarier and creepier

A local treasure that dates back to early 19th century life. The Worlds first "Penitentiary". Fun during Halloween season or year round.

Cold place, depressing, mysterious, full of great story about crimes, prisoners, and the conditions in which the prisoners were kept. The cost to the prison is quite cheap. It has audio in English, narrated by Steve Buscemi who is a great actor. There is also the audio in Spanish. The tour is a very interesting one that tells how life was inside the prison, from its inception until it ceased to operate. It also contains audio of some inmates and criminal guards who worked in jail. The place itself is very beautiful, the walls high, and you can see in some the different layers of stone and concrete that shape it. You can see the rooms of the inmates, with their small patios, the morgue, I enter other places. 100% recommended for those who seek to listen, and imagine while they tell a fascinating story.

Awesome place. This is a must visit if you are in the area. The audio tour is super informative and you can wander around afterwards at your leisure. Full of history and first hand accounts.

A good place to visit while in Philadelphia! Highly recommended. Something totally different from all the attractions in town. A well organized museum with a good included audio tour. You can do a main self guided tour which takes like 45 mins. But besides that there is so much too see and listen too! You can also go on small tours with a guide for no extra charge!
Staff is really friendly too!

First Penitentiary in America.
Name derived from Idea that inmates should be doing Penance for wrongdoing. Staff is Instructive and Friendly. Modern popularity comes from Al Capone and legendary Haunted mystique. Great visit regardless of the reason.

Highly recommend the VIP after dark tour offered around Halloween. My husband and I attended a couple years ago and the experience is something we ll never forget! So much history, beautiful scenery, and a spooky atmosphere of course. We plan to go back when the opportunity arises.

This was so awesome. There's few places you can't go look at which was unexpected and cool. I love places that let you free roam and if that's not your thing, they have audio yours and meetups at certain areas for you to learn more as well as group tours. One of my favorite places we went to.

An exciting visit! A place steeped in history which exhibits its experience in a very skilful way and touches us deeply! On the verge of poetics!

Off the beaten track attraction not to be missed. The first penitentiary in the United States.

Had a great although very cold morning. Bundle up in the winter. Had fun taking pictures.

Very interesting. The audio tour is nicely done - short, informative, and just the right amount of info. Very unique history.

Very interesting place. You can take an amazing and scary pictures!

The most interesting historical museum I have ever been to. Well done !

1. Gives you a thorough but brief audio tour that everyone pretty much participates THEN

2. You can continue exploring on your own with or without the audio. Both fun to do and you decide the length.

3. Different ways to engage including artist renditions and story telling.

This is a must in Philadelphia

Interesting place to visit, steeped in history. The price is reasonable. The staff is friendly.
A multitude of information communicated. Some rooms are very well renovated. Count 2 good hours for the visit. To note the presence of a parking (paying) right next which will make it possible to find easily place where to park. I recommend this visit.

My daughter requested to go. She loves places that are potentially haunted. Great museum for the whole family. We did the audio tour. I highly recommend that. Very interesting stories about the construction of the prison to the lives of some of the inmates and guards. We spent several hours. To take it all in go through it slowly.
There is no air conditioning in the prison. One room that provides facts about "prisons today" does have air conditioning.
My daughter took a photo of Al Capone's cell and if you are a believer.. then you will be able to see his face on the wall.

Best place to go for Halloween. I actually didn t even know it was open except as an attraction to scare you.

We took a roadtrip from New Jersey to Philadelphia and I wish I would of made the visit sooner. We parked across the street for $25. I purchased my tickets online, I was told the price would be $2 more if I brought them at the prison. I More

Crime and punishment are constantly evolving. Here is a place you can contemplate the punishments of yesteryear and today.

A truly impressive reminder of history and reactionism.

Very cool spot. The tour included audio that was jammed full of information. Not scary at all for kids. We didn't see one single ghost. It's not temperature controlled so layer up if you go in the winter!

Absolutely worth the visit, this historical landmark is incredibly interesting, has an audio tour, and is wonderfully preserved it it's "ruined" state. It's large enough to hold your interest and small enough to still be fun to explore in a few hours. Dress as though you're outside because, in effect, you will be as you tour the place. It's camera friendly, you just need to pay a little extra for the ability to use a tripod if you want. Worth it, in my view. I'd love to return!

While I was very pleased with the self guiding tour, we were under the impression it was a free event for the made in America celebration. When I arrived at the entrance there was a small notice saying the tour was free only between the hours of 5-8 pm. So I ended up paying half price for my group of 5. Upon leaving I noticed that no one was being informed of the price descrepency... I myself informed a young woman. Kudos for the tour... Shame on the price.

I absolutely loved this self guided audio tour! This allowed us to take our time and really get to explore the building. It was really fascinating to learn about the history of the penitentiary and get to walk the same halls that prisoners did many years ago

This is something to see in Philadelphia. It's very informative, providing historical context to the current US prison system.

Nice to know we can all have fun, viewing a place were people suffered and died. Fun for the whole family. The restaurant across the street Jack's firehouse serves baby vomit.

This is one of the must do-s in philly; and it s right by the art museum/rocky stairs so if you are visiting you can knock out 2 birds with one stone! I live in the neighborhood and love walking by this structure. I took the audio guided tour once and loved it, and I also went for the Halloween haunted house which they do really well! I could spend hours here taking pictures, reading facts, and wandering these spooky halls. If you love urban decay, this place is for you! It was also surprisingly educational about the prison system we have today!

Original place and really very interesting
The prison is really worth it. We are immersed in this sometimes gloomy atmosphere and some shivers invade us when we enter the cells. It is funny to see that of Al Capone much more cozy than the others. Particular emotion in the red room where everyone says if he has one day diverted the law. Fearing testimonials (anonymous) are poignant.

Neat historical landmark,The building itself was an architectural wonder; I really enjoyed it.

Built in 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary is a former prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It s known for being the very first prison of its kind to introduce solitary confinement, or what they used to call, the Pennsylvania System. Prisoners were sent to solitary during this time as a form of rehabilitation. They would be completely isolated, living alone, eating alone, and even exercising alone in their own individual yards. Whenever an inmate left his cell, a black hood would be placed over his head to assure he remained in confinement.

Due to Eastern States harsh approach, many prisoners were drove to insanity, and as a result the Pennsylvania System was scrapped in 1913. From then until 1970 it was used as a regular prison, and held the likes of Al Capone and the bank robber, Willie Sutton.

Reports of the paranormal have been going on since the 1940 s, but ever since the stone prison was abandoned in 1971, paranormal experiences have seemingly increased.

Reports include:

Shadowy figures that seem to quickly turn away when approached
a dark figure that is occasionally seen in the guard tower..

I believe HH Holmes was Executed there! But not sure!

Wild part of history. All the lessons we've learned. heard its amazing during Halloween

A gorgeosly imposing and fantasticly crumbling edifice in Philadelphia's and our nation's history. Particularly fond of the monthly Searchlight Series that brings light to current topics of incarceration.

We visited in July 2011. Creepy and Awesome all at the same time! Yes, it is haunted. No doubt about that!

Last time I was there was 2001 and I enjoyed it even more this time. Wonderful experience. Must see in Philadelphia. Great people. Friendly. Love the fact they are protecting it from damage from the elements but not cleaning it up that much. Keep it open as long as you can! Will go back again.

If you spend enough time time in that room I m sure it ll bring tears to your eyes. I can't believe I've passed this museum for decades and never stopped in.

A place that tells the reality of history. My wife and I went here during our stay in Pennsylvania. The access to the entrance was easy. However, as soon as I entered the penitentiary, I started feeling horrified. It is probably because I sensed the long history of this place accommodating so many criminals. There were so many interesting places inside. I was particularly interested in the Jewish part. It helped me understand how the chaplains here helped the prisoners find hope. Definitely a recommended place for first-timers here.

Very cool! Great audio tour. Reasonable price. Easy to find parking. Al Capone was here for a short time after he was pinched.

Take your teens here, They will like it. It was fun and wasn't pricey at all.

Best place in Philadelphia ,old rust paint coming off everywhere great staff medieval antiques , All Capone old jail cell!!!

This place is really cool and Kinda Awe inspiring. All the History surrounding it is fascinating, the architecture is imposing, its potentially Haunted and the Self Guided audio Tour is narrated by famed actor and Filmmaker Steve Buscemi. Best known for playing Donny in the Big Lebowski and That guy who got thrown into the Wood chipper in Fargo.
Also Al Capone s cell was really cool looking, and I heard that they do a Pretty sick Haunted House for Halloween. I would recommend checking this place out, and In fact I kinda wanna visit it again some time.

Very interesting history. Can easily spend over an hour or two there. Dress warm in the winter! Al Capone s cell was closed for renovations. The Synagogue was a cool find!

Very cool attraction to visit. I was there 3 + hours because there was so much to see. They give you a headset for the audio tour and it is narrated by Steve Buscemi! It was eerie walking through and seeing what some people had to go through. I bet their tours during October a really spooky. I definitely recommend going.

A unique place to know the history of one of the most influential US federal prison. The staffs are very professional. Some cells contain art installations, which constitutes an open and modern way of learning.

I agree with the reviewer below me. Terror Behind the Walls is HIGHLY overrated, overpriced, and overall not really all that scary. You're barely even in the prison. You spend 90% of the night waiting in lines. Honestly don't waste your time here. I've finally gone to Pennhurst Asylum and I can honestly say that it is much better there and actually scary. The only thing is the lines are very, very long there as well.

Spent a couple days exploring this historic ruin. Did terror behind the walls then did the daytime tour. Both are very good and highly recommended.

The Eastern State Penitentiary, which looks like a castle not far from downtown Philadelphia, is where prisoners have been imprisoned for mainly heavy convictions.
It is also a prison where the real hero of the godfather, Al Capone, was imprisoned.
It was only open from 1892 to 1971 and is now open to tourists.

The Eastern State Prison, which looks like a castle, located not far from downtown Philadelphia, is the home of mainly prisoners of heavy guilt.
It is also the prison where Al Capone, the real protagonist of the godfather, was imprisoned.
It operated only from 1892 to 1971, and is now open to tourists.

It was a really great experience, fascinating and interesting!!
I loved that this is a self-guided headphone tour and were able to go at our own pace.
Might even go back again :)

such a wonderful & historical place to go! loved it 100%.

Tremendous experience. Self-guided tour of a penitentiary of old. Easily can spend three hours wandering and learning.

Super interesting histrorical place to visit. For me just being here was worth the trip from NYC to Philly. The penitentiary is really impressive and a bit creepy, too.

I recommend to join the 2 pm guided tour (it lasts about 1 h). Our guide (Alex, I think) was well prepared and managed to involve all the people of the group asking for opinions and comments quite often.

I suggest to buy the tickets online, thus saving 2$/ea.

Definitely worth a visit to anyone that comes to the area.

Fantastic piece of history in Philly..i recently visited for the second time and was just as mesmerized as the first. Its incredible to see such an old, influential structure still standing, showing everyone who walks through the dark reality of what was, essentially a luxury prison in its time. I recommend going when it's a bit warmer as we just learned the hard way that those old stone walls leave the rooms colder than it is outside. Get entry with the Philadelphia city pass and save on admission..only need an hour or two to get through.

I have always wanted to go here and it went beyond my expectations. You really get that sense that many people have passed through this place. You get that "someone is watching you" feeling. The tours and staff really focus your attention on the actual history of the prison instead of filling your head with ghost stories. They leave that up to you :) Next time we take a trip to Philadelphia we're going to look into doing the flashlight tour. Maybe we'll see more than we bargained for next time ;)

One of my favorite things I have seen as a tourist in Philadelphia. I would rank this above Alcatraz because it looks abandoned and the audio tour really provides interesting facts and stories. Take the normal guide but check out the random stories they offer. If possible check out their night event during Halloween!

Great experience, the audio guide is great, really complete..