Eastern State Penitentiary

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. Explore Eastern State’s history and reflect on the legacy of American criminal justice reform. Admission includes history exhibits like Al Capone’s Cell and Death Row, award-winning exhibits about prisons today and the root causes of mass incarceration, site-specific artist installations, and more. 

Note for CollegeFest:

CollegeFest attendees should check in at the designated table inside the penitentiary’s front gate along Fairmount Ave. Audio guides will not be available for Collegefest attendees; however, a full transcript of “The Voices of Eastern State” Audio Tour (and audio files for the first ten stops) can be found at www.EasternState.org/explore/audio-tour