Philadelphia Things To Do: Eastern State Penitentiary was the world's first true penitentiary, built in 1829. The jail transferred out its final prisoners in 1971 and has been run as a National Historic Landmark ever since. During its hey-day, the unique wagon-wheel-shaped design of the building held high-profile criminals like Al 'Scarface' Capone.
The penitentiary is rife with historical tidbits, like the time Willie Sutton dug a 97-foot tunnel en route to his own escape. Today, the facility is kept in "preserved ruin," meaning that no attempts at restoration are being made— which makes it that much more intriguing as a destination. |
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