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All 370 Philadelphia Attractions »

Eastern State Penitentiary

2124 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130
215 236 3300
Ranked #8 of 258 attractions in Philadelphia
4.5 of 5 stars 394 Reviews
Type: Historic Sites, Museums
Fee: Yes
Owner description: Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site was once the most famous and expensive prison in the world, but stands today in ruin, a haunting world of...... more » Owner description: Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site 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. Known for its grand architecture and strict discipline, this was the world’s first true “penitentiary,” a prison designed to inspire penitence, or true regret, in the hearts of convicts. Tours today include the cellblocks, solitary punishment cells, Al Capone’s Cell, and Death Row. « less
Useful Information: Activities for older children
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394 reviews from our community

Visitor rating
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Date Rating
Glassboro, NJ
Senior Contributor
45 reviews 45 reviews
Reviews in 16 cities Reviews in 16 cities
21 helpful votes 21 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 25, 2012 NEW

Got a groupon for Eastern State "Terror Behind the Walls" and we went as a family. So much fun! It gets very crowded, so you will either get there early or wait. We had to wait, but we killed some time in a cute little English pub about a block away and then had so much fun! More

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See 4 more reviews by NJJoyful for Philadelphia
Philadelphia
Senior Contributor
21 reviews 21 reviews
Reviews in 4 cities Reviews in 4 cities
5 helpful votes 5 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 24, 2012 NEW

I marketed it as a “castle” to the boys and we were off to explore. First you go in the big doors and then there is a long, narrow hallway to the right that takes you to the ticket counter. Kid’s 6 and under are free and adults are $12 so I think that is an affordable “castle” trip. You... More

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See 17 more reviews by Hipster H for Philadelphia
Porec, Croatia
Senior Contributor
30 reviews 30 reviews
Reviews in 14 cities Reviews in 14 cities
13 helpful votes 13 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 24, 2012 NEW

Well, the Eastern State Penitentiary represent a big part of American history. It is the first one of this kind of prisons. It's structure is amazing and worth to see. All the most famous prisons in US (as for example Alcatraz in San Francisco) or other prisons in Europe were made in the same way. It is easy to reach... More

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Augusta, Georgia
Senior Reviewer
9 reviews 9 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
2 helpful votes 2 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 23, 2012 NEW

If you enjoyed seeing the Ghost Hunter's show on this, you will love being able to be there first hand. It is decay, lost souls and isolation. As you travel around the facility you are able to imagine the prison as it once was. There are remains of some of the (very limited) furnishings within the cells, stories of the... More

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See 3 more reviews by Gramma99 for Philadelphia
Canada
Senior Contributor
47 reviews 47 reviews
Reviews in 19 cities Reviews in 19 cities
23 helpful votes 23 helpful votes
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 22, 2012 NEW

What a place! It's amazing to see the property and imagine the lives that were led by both the inmates and the guards there. A one hour audio tour is filled with very interesting facts and tales, from Pep the inmate dog to Al Capone's cell, as it appeard back when he was imprisoned there. Well worth the visit! More

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See 5 more reviews by welovetravelCanada for Philadelphia
Charlotte
Senior Reviewer
7 reviews 7 reviews
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 22, 2012 NEW

I loved this place. Reasonable admission ($12, I think) and then you have basically full access to the place. There is a hugely informative and interesting narrated tour that you are given on headset, so you can take it at your own pace. The architecture and the light inside the building is impossible not to gobble up with a lens.... More

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See 6 more reviews by M B for Philadelphia
Bucks County, PA
Top Contributor
65 reviews 65 reviews
Reviews in 11 cities Reviews in 11 cities
1 helpful vote 1 helpful vote
1 of 5 stars Reviewed May 21, 2012

I don't understand why this prison is open to the public. It is smelly and falling down. More

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See 46 more reviews by AllyBeeds for Philadelphia
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Contributor
20 reviews 20 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
3 helpful votes 3 helpful votes
5 of 5 stars Reviewed May 20, 2012

this was a horror prison hauted and scary i dont no how the prisioners could take this abuse with spirits and hearing other inmate screaming for there lifes. exc to be continue More

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See 12 more reviews by marisolf577 for Philadelphia
Geneva New York
Senior Contributor
36 reviews 36 reviews
Reviews in 9 cities Reviews in 9 cities
12 helpful votes 12 helpful votes
1 of 5 stars Reviewed May 20, 2012

My recommendation to those who believe this place needs preserving. Repair the walls and maintain them. Repair and maintain one wing of the former prison and bulldoze the rest. Yes, the place has a lot of history but simply not with preserving for prosperity. The place is a mess and I dare say a health risk to those visiting the... More

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See 10 more reviews by Cobtree for Philadelphia
Point Pleasant, Pennsylvania
Senior Reviewer
10 reviews 10 reviews
Reviews in 5 cities Reviews in 5 cities
4 of 5 stars Reviewed May 20, 2012

Stunner - at how we imprisoned in the past. Shakes us up a bit and informs us of what we humans do to each other More

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See 3 more reviews by robert t for Philadelphia

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