Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site literally hands visitors the keys to the cellblocks with Hands-On History interactive experiences. These short demonstrations take place throughout the penitentiary complex, each lasting five minutes or less. An expert Eastern State tour guide leads each activity, although visitors do the bulk of the physical activities themselves.
Included in standard admission. Tour times and descriptions follow.
Front Gate
10:05 am, 1:20 pm, 3:50 pm
Try your hand opening the penitentiary's complex and heavy front gate.
The Operating Room
10:20 am, 11:20 am, 1:35 pm, 2:35 pm, 3:35 pm, 4:50 pm
Step into the long-abandoned surgical space, part of the prison's once state-of-the-art hospital.
Punishment Cells
10:35 am, 11:35 am, 1:50 pm, 2:50 pm, 4:05 pm
Climb down into "the Hole," the dark corridor beneath Cellblock 14 to see the four concrete, windowless punishment cells known as "Klondike."
The Ruins of Death Row
10:50 am, 1:05 pm, 2:05 pm, 3:20 pm, 4:20 pm
View the collapsing exercise yards of Death Row, one of the most ruinous spaces at Eastern State.
How to Open a Cell
10 minutes past each hour
Unlock and open one of Eastern State's intricate lock systems and "escape-proof" iron cell doors.
Chaplain's Office
11:05 am, 2:20 pm, 4:35 pm
Learn about the history of this sacred space and see the beautiful and spiritual murals painted by an inmate in the 1950s.
Basketball Court
11:50 am, 3:05 pm
See the 20th century exercise yard converted into a basketball court (not otherwise open to the public) and discuss the sports played by inmates throughout the years.
Families at Eastern State
10 minutes and 40 minutes past each hour
Explore the strange, unexpected, and often heartfelt relationships that existed between family members at Eastern State.
Leaving Their Mark
40 minutes past each hour
See rare artwork left by inmates and marks hidden by carpenters inside the walls of this ancient building.
Hour-Long Guided Tour
2 pm
Led by an expert tour guide, the one-hour tour highlights Eastern State's fascinating 142-year history.
