Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia
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Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia - by Rimesh Patel on Google
Description
The Eastern State Penitentiary is a former prison that was operational from 1829 until 1971 in Philadelphia. It was known for being one of the first to use separate confinement of inmates. Many famous criminals were incarcerated here including Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton. Since 1994 the penitentiary has reopened for public tours. This review is for the daytime tour which includes an audio-guide with ten stops lasting bout 40mins followed by an unguided exploration of artist installations and exhibits.
Access & Transport
The complex is 2km north of City Hall, just over 1km west of N Broad St and Fairmount underground station (BSL) and a 10mins' walk from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Bus 49 stops close to the entrance on Fairmount Ave. There is a parking lot at 22nd St & Fairmount Ave. On the Eastern State side of 22nd Street, parallel parking is free and unlimited. The same is true of Brown Street, which borders the back wall. Directions and accessibility info: https://www.easternstate.org/access
Instructions & Recommendations
Management states that ESP is not recommended for children under the age of seven as the building is in 'a state of semi-ruin' and some audio tour stops include adult content.
Environmental & Social
Low carbon footprint and educational
Conclusion
Philadelphia's Eastern State Penitentiary may not appeal to everybody on paper, but we do think it is very much worth considering, including traveller and residents looking for cultural activities. To us, it is both educational and acting as a memorial that invites reflection rather than a commercialized attraction that just needs watching and listening to.
Key positive
Very instructive
Kept 'authentic'
Key negative
Lacks suggested route beyond the initial 10 audio stops
Suitability
The attraction is not recommended for children under 7. Most of the building and outdoor area is accessible for visitors with reduced mobility
About this Rating
TYPE
Desktop
RESEARCHED IN
August 2024
PROVIDER
Koreval
av. transport time:0h 25m
est. visit time:2h
Monday10:00 - 17:00
Tuesday10:00 - 17:00
Wednesday10:00 - 17:00
Thursday10:00 - 17:00
Friday10:00 - 17:00
Saturday10:00 - 17:00
Sunday10:00 - 17:00