Eastern State Penitentiary

While Rob Monkey and I had some down time in between two DMB shows in Camden, NJ, we decided to explore a favorite haunt of the Ghost Hunters, Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pa.

View all photos I took at Eastern State Penitentiary.

I didn't realize it was actually located in a neighborhood not far from the Museum of Art. It's fairly easy to get to and there's a public parking lot right next door. There are also a couple pubs and restaurants across the street from the old prison creating an odd juxtaposition.


We weren't able to make it for a guided tour, but the audio tour is available any time. It's narrated by actor/director Steve Buscemi, who is joined by former inmates and guards at Eastern State. They lead you through 10 locations in the prison, and information about other areas is available by pressing the corresponding buttons on the audio player with numbers displayed on informational placards. The audio tour was well put together and easy to follow along.


Even though it a was a bright sunny, summer day and there were lots of other visitors, it was still a little creepy walking around the prison.


Paint was peeling from the walls and some of the old cells had tree roots growing in them.


Many of the cells were dark and I could only see what was inside after looking at the result of a flash photo on my digital camera.


Al Capone stayed in this cell above.


This section above is reported to be on of the most haunted sections of the prison, but was not part of the audio tour. It's actually closed behind a steel gate that I stuck the camera through to take this photo.

The Ghost Hunters captured the video below on one of their first visits to Eastern State.



Here's what Rob and I captured on our visit. That's Rob asking the question "Is anyone here?"



I would definitely go back again to spend more time exploring.

- Salud!