Eastern State Penitentiary

[StringTheory]

Yesterday I had the opportunity to visit the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. In the past few years this historic prison has gained fair amount of notoriety due to it's multiple appearances on the "Ghost Hunters" t.v. program. It is a truly amazing structure to find in a modern city. It was opened in 1829, the fruition of over 30 years of consideration. Built to look like an imposing fortress in order to strike fear in the hearts of early Americans by conjuring up images of a European castle. With it's 30 ft. high walls and even higher battlements, it truly looks more like a fortress from the middle ages than a structure built in the early 1800's. But, that is exactly the point of the architecture. In actuality it was a stark contrast to what really was going on behind the walls.

Some History:

Both inside and out, this prison was carefully designed with purpose and function. As stated above, the castle like appearance was meant to remind the people on the outside, and inside, of oppression. The radial design of the cell blocks was an improvement on the "panopticon" design, and allowed minimal staff to be able to monitor multiple cell blocks from a central location known as the Rotunda. However, unlike a panopticon, it did not allow the prisoners to see the whereabouts of the guards. Average sentences at this time were about 2 years, and the entire time was spent in solitary confinement. Prisoners were not allowed to speak to one another, and when outside their cells they were forced to don hoods to hide their appearance. This was done so no prisoner who eventually was freed from ESP could recognize another freed prisoner on the street. The original cells were small stark rooms with vaulted ceilings and a single skylight or "eye of God." They were meant to invoke the image of the church, and force penitence on the prisoner. 23 hours of the day were spent in their cells and they had 2 half hour exercise breaks. They were allowed only one book, the Bible. They were only afforded 3 things, which were supposed to put them on the path to redemption. The Bible, the light of God, and honest work. This system of imprisonment came to be known as "the Pennsylvania system," and was emulated not just throughout the United States, but other parts of the world as well.

By the early 1900's "the Pennsylvania System" was becoming less solitary, adopting things such as sports leagues and communal workshops into prison life. By 1929 ESP boasted industrial grade production facilities for cooking, baking, weaving and other trades. By 1956, the original system had all but been abandoned. Finally, in 1971, 142 years after it opened it's doors, and after housing 80,000 prisoners over the years, ESP was closed.

In 1994, the prison was opened for it's first public tours by "The Pennsylvania Prison Society."

What's so Interesting about ESP?:

Aside from it's more obvious historical interest, over the past few years the prison has gained quite a bit of attention with claims by staff and public alike that they have experienced paranormal activity while on the grounds. Common reports include shadowy entities and figures darting in and out of cells. Sounds of footsteps and other unexplained sounds. Also feelings of dread and anxiety. The main centers of activity are supposedly cell blocks 4 and 12. 12 being where shadowy figures are reported. Multiple paranormal research groups have investigated the grounds, most notably The Atlantic Paranormal Society, or TAPS, subjects of the Sci Fi channel reality show, "Ghost Hunters." They collected video footage of what may be a shadow figure in cell block 12. That clip is still debated today. TAPS believes the grounds to truly have paranormal activity.

My impressions:

From the exterior the grounds looked amazing. Especially when one considers the surrounding urban sprawl. It's like a vision from another time in fact. Once inside the oppressive environment is quite evident. High 30 ft walls, guard towers which looked like medieval battlements. Stark, cold and hard, cells. There was nothing there that said comfort. As I learned of the history I tried to imagine what it would be like to spend years by yourself in one of those small 6x8 cells. It must have been maddening. If ever an environment was created to force penance, this was it. It's very easy to get lost in the heady architecture, and it's subliminal messages. Ceilings purposely designed to look like the ceiling of a chapel. Cells designed to resemble miniature churches, sky lights representing the eye of God. All I could think was, if the paranormal exists in some of the ways we believe it might, this place may have fostered quite a bit of it. It was easy to imagine the tremendous amount of silent suffering welling through these halls. Men (and eventually women) left to nothing but their thoughts, no human contact at all for years. One could argue that perhaps the years of collective turmoil had created a psychic impression that had been given a life of it's own at ESP. I myself experienced nothing while there, nor did I expect to. But I did truly enjoy spending a few hours on the grounds taking pictures and imagining with a morbid curiosity what it must have been like to spend time there in it's heyday. I highly suggest, if you ever have the chance, to wander these grounds. You may not find ghosts in the paranormal sense, but the ghosts of another time and place are very much alive there.

Eastern State Penitentiary

Below you will find pictures I took at the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. If you happen to notice any apparitions, please let me know.

The main entrance:

Outside cell block 1:

There are no square angles connecting the walls:

Cell block 1:

Cell door:

Inside a cell:

A historically correct restored cell:

View from inside:

Looking back down cell block 1 from the Rotunda:

A newer cell block with 2 floors:

View from the second floor:

Dilapidated cell:

Shower:

Al Capones cell, restored:

A model of the building in the 1800's:

Outside on the grounds:

An exorcise yard located behind a cell:

Baseball diamond:

A "Ghost Cat," part of one of the current art installations:

Fat pigeon, or winged rat, as we call them in N.J.:

Death Row, this area was also investigated by TAPS:

Death row cell:

Art or something like it:

The infamous cell block 12:

Cell block 12:

More cell block 12:

Cell block 12 looking up to the right:

And the left:

I took this one through a small hole in a door, this area was closed:

By pushing against the door I was able to get more light in:

Another wall, note the small hole in the rusted door:

This is what i got through the hole, steps!:

Speaking of holes, "The Hole," solitary confinement:

Greenhouse:

A view behind the greenhouse:

Cell block 15, solitary:

Barbers chair:

Storage closet:

Another cell block:

Look up:

Outside, interesting architecture:

The view back down the way I came:

I put my hand around a fence for this one:

I have no idea:

This was a closed room, but a glass window pane was broke, so I stuck my hand in and snapped a shot:

Chalk board cell block roster:

The eye of God!:

Another cell in the older section:

The Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons:

A cave in:

I liked the contrast in building styles from different centuries:

After adding additional cell blocks mirrors were used to see down the halls:

Chapel like ceiling:


If any one is interested in watching TAPS first investigation of ESP, I have included links below to all parts. This is the episode where they catch a shadowy apparition in cell block 12.







p.s. please excuse any spelling or grammatical errors, I'm dead tired, lol. Have fun, I just did. =)

[Mary]

Wow, String Theory, what a fantastic photo essay about the famous ESP! I have seen it on TV and I have seen that well-known episode of original TAPS, but your photo tour really brings it to life. Great shots! They really bring out the importance of the atmosphere at that place. How interesting, the plaque about the society for the betterment of prison conditions, with a picture of Ben Franklin, a founding father of humanitarianism in the U.S. How sad those good men would be to see how today, in 2008, prisons still need better conditions and how so many are jailed for the wrong reasons.

String, wonderful work, thanks again!

[Lucy]

Great thread String! I remember watching the TAPS investigation, and thinking I'd love to go there. What strikes me is how quickly everything deteriorates once it's abandoned. We have an old prison here in Brisbane which is supposed to be haunted, and you are able to visit it. I keep meaning to visit but you've definately inspired me to do something about it.

[StringTheory]

Thanks for the kind words guys. I hope you enjoyed the thread and the photo's.

One thing to note, there are currently 9 art installations going on at ESP. You see bits and pieces of a few in my photo's. Some examples can be found in the picture of the ceramic cat, the Greenhouse, multiple pictures where you saw a red pipe leading through parts of the prison, also the floating tiles in a shower. All interesting stuff, but for me hard to concentrate on with this huge structure around me begin to be explored. Lol...

I believe we'll be going back in November. During that month you are allowed to do paranormal investigations by reservation. These are semi guided tours that take place between 10 p.m. and 2 a.m. where you have a guide with you to help you navigate as well as allow you in to areas that are normally not open to the public, such as cell blocks 4 and 12. It costs $100. U.S. per person in the group, with a 4 person minimum. Also you supply your own equipment. Very tempting. We just need 2 more team members...

[Mary]

Interesting how there are some art installations there, String. And even more so, how the site is open for ghost investigations. That's awesome! Looking forward to hearing more, String!

[Fen Star]

Good read and some great photos String....

[StringTheory]

Thanks Fen, glad you enjoyed the photo's. =)

My favorite one is the one I titled "view from the second floor." I also really like the one of the "floating tiles" which was part of one of the art projects.

Here's some more info on art installations you can see in the photo's. There are 9 in total now, but I didn't snap shots of all of them. The ceramic cats ("Ghost Cats" by Linda Brenner) represent a huge cat colony that took up residence at ESP after it closed in the 70's. These cat sculptures all all over the grounds. The Greenhouse has also been converted into a display titled, "My Glass House," by Judith Taylor. The floating tiles are part of an installation called, "Juxtaposition," by Matthew and Jon Stemler. And the red pipes you see in a few photo's I believe were part of a project called, "The End of the Tunnel," which uses red pipe to show possible escape routes, by Dayton Castleman.

More information on the installations can be found here: http://www.easternstate.org/exhibits/

By the way, last night my wife noticed in the picture of Al Capones cell there is an "orb" by his desk. Neither of us believe in orbs so we laughed it off. But it sure does look like it has some motion lines near it. Hmmmmm.....

By the way. Did any one have a chance to watch the "Ghost Hunters," episode? And if so, what is your impression on the shadow figure in cell block 12? I'm undecided personally, but it sure makes for interesting debate.

[Fen Star]

I liked the Al Capones cell, and it would be nice to spend the night there, bloody creepy though.....

[StringTheory]

Al Capones cell was very cool, and it had a bit of an interesting story. First and foremost, he was one of the most notorious criminals to serve time there. He was convicted of carrying a concealed and deadly weapon in Philly, and sentenced to 1 year. He only served 8 months.

What I found strange about his cell is that it was literally the closest cell to the induction/departure doorway. He was only a few hundred feet from freedom. Odd place for a notorious person like that. Also as you saw, he was afforded a lot more luxury in his cell than the average prisoner, a desk and lamp, an expensive radio, better bedding. As the story goes he either donated money to the institution or another one says he was instrumental in curbing some violence at the penitentiary during his stay. Either way he was given special treatment.

So, any takers for my team of paranormal investigators? Still 2 spots open for an overnight investigation. Cell block 12 is calling....

[Lucy]

I'd sign up for the ghost hunt if we lived closer.

[StringTheory]

I wish you did! I imagine it would be down right fun and creepy! We are seriously planning on doing it.

We don't have a lot of equipment, but we planned on bringing a few camera's with night vision, a regular digital camera, and digital recording devices. I'm not big on the EMF theory, so forget that. Also thermal imaging, FLIR, type camera's are expensive as hell, so I'm ruling out that as well.

[Dawn]

Thankyou so much for sharing those photos, that was really fascinating. I have visited Castles in the UK and you really get a specific kind of feeling from historical sites. I will be looking at your photos a few times i think, there is just so much to look at. Im going to add this to the list of places i would love to visit.

[StringTheory]

Thanks for checking the photo's out Dawn. I'm glad you enjoyed them!

It's really hard to convey the true feeling of ESP with only photo's and words. It's a very special place, and I would venture say it has a bit of a personality of it's own.

As you said, you get a "special kind of feeling" from historical places. ESP definitely has that type of feeling, and something more. You can feel the desperation, and desolation, yet at the same time you see the bits of life renewed as well.

As I said, my favorite photo is the one I called "view from the second floor." It's one of the few that I felt that really translated that feeling I had while there into photo form. Here it is again.

[Mary]

String, that's a good photo, I agree. That old two-story hallway is filled with visual tension, so narrow and ordered, all those impersonal-looking cells. Those concentric arches of shadow make the hallway disappear into a perspective space which almost looks like something they'd use to represent hyperspace in an animation, wonderful effect. And then, by contrast, the light coming in from the ceiling looks almost heavenly and a tree with leaves of a really beautiful green peeks in. It's a really, really good photo.

[Liselle]

Amazing pics ST... The place looks interesting!

Can I ask whats going on in the picture titled "Death Row, this area was also investigated by TAPS:"? - whats with the light anomaly... Can you explain it?

You can sense the darkness in certain parts of the place - the history can be felt through your photos - thanks for sharing them.

[StringTheory]

Hi Liselle! How's things been? Thanks for the compliment on the photo's! They really don't do ESP justice.

Interesting that you ask about that photo. The TAPs team had the same trouble with light anomalies when the photographed that area. They kept getting brownish colored orbs in their digital shots.

As you can see in my photo, really all it is is the flash reflecting off of the rusted chain link gate they have to block the area. Much of ESP is blocked off from the public. For instance cell block 12, supposedly the most haunted site at ESP, is also behind a gate. I was able to get my hand and camera around that one. Probably a good 1/3 of my shots were taken by reaching my hand around or through gates and/or broken windows and cracks in doors. Lol...

By the way, TAPs also came to the same conclusion regarding the orbs in their death row photo's. The orbs were light reflecting off the chain link gate.

Hope that helps! =)

[Liselle]

I detest orb photos HAHA! Ah I see the rusted chain link fence you stuck your camera up against now - Derrr Liselle.

[StringTheory]

I'm not an orb fan myself at all. I believe that orbs do in fact exist in many incarnations, such as electrical anomalies or ball lightning, but what the heck do they have to do with human spirits?

[Liselle]

Don't get me started String...

I got kicked off a paranormal forum for debating the concept of orbs being human spirit... In almost every digital photo I've seen, there has been a perfectly normal photographic explanation to it.

But enough about that.

Still think your photos are cool.

Let us know if you organise a paranormal investigation!