Eastern State Penitentiary: The World's First True Reformatory

Why It Stands Out

In an era when the White House lacked indoor plumbing, prisoners here enjoyed private toilets, central heating, and individual skylights meant to represent the "Eye of God." However, these comforts came at a heavy psychological cost. The facility operated under the "separate system," where inmates lived in total isolation.

They ate alone, exercised in private yards, and were forbidden from speaking. To ensure absolute quiet, guards wore felt covers over their shoes, and prisoners were forced to wear hoods whenever they left their cells to prevent them from seeing a human face.

This experiment in total solitude eventually drew international criticism. During an 1842 visit, Charles Dickens denounced the system as a form of mental torture far worse than physical violence.

Despite its high-minded beginnings, the prison eventually succumbed to overcrowding and transitioned to a more traditional communal model. Before closing its doors in 1971, the facility housed notorious figures like bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone; the latter famously occupied a cell outfitted with fine furniture, oil paintings, and a radio.

Today, the building is preserved in a state of "magnificent decay," with peeling paint and crumbling masonry providing a stark backdrop to its grim history.

Before You Go

The site is open for public tours and is best experienced through the self-guided audio program, which features narration by Steve Buscemi and interviews with former guards and inmates. Because the building is kept in a semi-ruined state, it can be quite cold in the winter; seasonal "Winter Adventure" tours are available for those who don't mind the chill.

Throughout the year, the penitentiary also hosts unique events, including a Bastille Day festival and a popular haunted attraction during the Halloween season.