Place: Eastern State Penitentiary
Location: 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Phone: (215) 236-3300
Hours: Open year-round; hours vary by season. Check the official website for current hours.
Admission: $17-$34 (varies by season); discounts available for seniors, students, and children. Special events may have separate pricing.
Website: https://www.easternstate.org
History: A foreboding Gothic prison turned museum, Eastern State Penitentiary is considered one of America’s most haunted locations. This former prison, operational from 1829 to 1971, pioneered the “separate system” of isolation that drove many inmates to madness.
Eastern State Penitentiary was designed to revolutionize the prison system with its “Pennsylvania System” of solitary confinement, aiming to inspire penitence in inmates.
Its innovative radial design and grand architecture made it a model for over 300 prisons worldwide. Notable inmates included infamous gangster Al Capone and bank robber “Slick Willie” Sutton. The prison closed in 1971 and reopened as a historic site and museum in 1994.
Hauntings: Eastern State Penitentiary is reputed to be one of the most haunted locations in the United States. Visitors and staff have reported numerous paranormal activities, including:
- Shadowy Figures: Apparitions darting through corridors and cells.
- Disembodied Voices: Echoes of whispers and distant conversations.
- Footsteps: Unexplained sounds of pacing in empty areas.
- Cold Spots: Sudden temperature drops in specific locations.
- Physical Contact: Sensations of being touched or tapped by unseen entities.
Cellblock 12 is particularly noted for echoing voices and cackling, while Cellblock 6 has reports of shadowy figures. Cellblock 4 is known for ghostly faces appearing. Al Capone’s cell is also a focal point, with reports of his tormented screams, allegedly haunted by victims of his past.
Personal Experiences: While many visitors have recounted eerie sensations and unexplained phenomena, specific documented personal experiences are limited. The penitentiary has been featured on various paranormal investigation shows, including “Ghost Adventures” and “Most Haunted Live!,” where investigators reported capturing unexplained sounds and sightings.
Visitors report shadowy figures, disembodied laughter, footsteps in empty cellblocks, and ghostly faces peering from cells. Famous inmates included Al Capone, whose cell is said to be particularly active with paranormal activity.
The prison’s imposing architecture and deteriorating cellblocks create an incredibly eerie atmosphere, especially in:
- Cellblock 12
- Death Row
- The Hospital Wing
Paranormal Activity Rating: High (Frequent activity)
For a visual exploration of Eastern State Penitentiary’s haunting history, you may find the following video informative: