Eastern State Penitentiary, USA

Eastern State Penitentiary operated between 1829 and 1971. Subsequently, the prison lay abandoned for over a decade. During this time it was home only to stray cats as vegetation began to encroach on the prison. Finally, the penitentiary opened for historic tours in 1994.

The Penitentiary is built of local metamorphic rock, tough schist and gneiss. The architectural style is imposing Gothic Revival, enclosed in a 30-foot tall perimeter wall. Additionally, there are castle-like guard towers. There is only one entrance to the prison, through the Administration Building at the south.

Eastern State was the world’s first true penitentiary. Here the focus was on rehabilitation on inmates rather than simply locking them up as a punishment. Inmates were incarcerated in separate cells. This permitted them much time for quiet contemplation of their crimes and behaviour. The warden visited every inmate daily, to aid evaluation of their rehabilitation efforts.

Cell Blocks

The original building design had seven one-story cell blocks. These cell blocks fan outwards from the central hexagonal rotunda like the spokes of a wheel. Therefore the central area acted as an observatory to all the cell corridors. The prison was already overcapacity by the time Cell Block 3 was built. Consequently, all subsequent cell blocks were built with two floors. By the time the prison closed the prison had 15 cell blocks in total, many of these hastily built in attempts to ease the overcrowding. Cell Block 7 has a unique design, with a well-lit 30ft high vaulted ceiling which. This block is the brightest cell block, with an almost cathedral-like atmosphere.

Eastern State Penitentiary VIP accomodation – Al Capone’s Cell

In 1929, the infamous gangster Alphonse “Scarface” Capone was arrested. He was outside a movie theatre, and busted for carrying a concealed and unlicensed revolver. The judge handed him a one year sentence at East State Penitentiary, serving eight months in a small cell.  A re-creation of his cell shows what it would have looked like in the 1920’s. Local newspapers reported Capone enjoyed many luxuries during his incarcerations here. His cell had plush decorations, including oil paintings and large oriental rugs on the floor. He also had a cabinet radio, and enjoyed listening to waltzes in his cell for hours.

The infamous “Mad Chair” of Eastern State Penitentiary

In the middle of a small cell, lies the “Mad Chair”. This red upholstered chair is reminiscent of a dentist’s chair. The tales surrounding this simple piece of furniture is quite horrifying. Guards would restrain prisoners in the Mad Chair for days at a time, with tight leather restraints. During this time their limbs may lose circulation and go black. In extreme cases, the prison doctor would occasionally have to amputate their dead limbs.

Medical Block/Hospital (Cell Block 3)

In the late 1800’s a state-of-the-art hospital was built on site. The medical wing occupies Cell Block 3. There were operating theatres, laboratories, a pharmacy, x-ray rooms, hydrotherapy rooms, psychiatric department and a solarium.

Diseases, especially tuberculosis, spread quickly through the cramped and crowded cell blocks. Half of all deaths (around 1,400) within Eastern State Penitentiary were tuberculosis related. There were outside exercise yards where patients could get some fresh air. Before pharmaceutical cures for tuberculosis, this was a commonly prescribed treatment. Fresh air and sunlight was the only way doctors could treat this respiratory disease.