Eastern State Penitentiary set the standard for penal reform, with
its castle-like Gothic architecture and its Quaker-inspired belief
that solitary confinement could reform even the most violent
criminals. ESP opened its doors in 1829, soon becoming a model for
prison design worldwide, with over 300 prisons on four continents
copying its unique and distinctive “ wagon-wheel “ floor plan. The
11-acre prison had central heat, running water and flush toilets
even before the White House.
A Who’s Who of the underworld – Al Capone and Willie Sutton (
who staged a breakout in 1945 ) served time here. Once the most
expensive building in the United States, ESP closed its doors to
the penal system and was abandoned in 1971 after 142 years of
service. It is now a National Historic Landmark and is open to the
public for tours and the premier Halloween event of the year in the
area “ Terror behind the Walls “.
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