Eastern State Penitentiary

Rising like a medieval fortress in the heart of Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary was once the most famous—and most expensive—prison in the world. Its revolutionary design influenced over 300 prisons worldwide, and its psychological approach to punishment pioneered the very concept of the “penitentiary.” Today, the crumbling Gothic structure stands as one of America’s most haunted locations, where prisoners who suffered in isolation may still roam the cellblocks—including the ghost that tormented the most famous gangster in American history.

A Revolutionary Prison

The Pennsylvania System

When Eastern State Penitentiary opened on October 25, 1829, it represented a radical experiment in criminal justice. The word “penitentiary” itself was coined here—derived from “penitent,” meaning one who is sorry for wrongdoing.

The Pennsylvania System (also called the Separate System) was based on Quaker beliefs that criminals could be reformed through:

• Complete solitary confinement — Each prisoner lived alone in a private cell
• Silence — Prisoners were forbidden to speak or communicate
• Reflection — With only a Bible for company, inmates would contemplate their sins
• Labor — Simple work performed alone in each cell
• Anonymity — Prisoners wore hoods whenever leaving their cells to prevent recognition

The founders genuinely believed that isolation and silence would lead to spiritual transformation. They believed people were inherently good and that crime resulted from environmental corruption. Remove the prisoner from corrupting influences, provide time for reflection, and reformation would follow.

Architectural Marvel

Eastern State was designed by architect John Haviland in a revolutionary “hub-and-spoke” design:

• A central surveillance rotunda
• Seven cellblocks radiating outward like spokes
• Each cell measuring approximately 8 × 12 feet with 10-foot ceilings
• Individual exercise yards attached to each cell
• Central heating (one of the first buildings in the country to have it)
• Flush toilets in each cell (before even the White House had them)

At a cost of $772,000 (approximately $25 million today), it was the most expensive public building ever constructed in America at that time.

Distinguished Visitors

The prison’s fame attracted visitors from around the world:

• Charles Dickens (1842) — Wrote extensively about his visit, ultimately condemning the solitary system
• Alexis de Tocqueville (1831) — The French political scientist studied American democracy and its prisons
• Hundreds of prison officials — From dozens of countries seeking to replicate the model

The Reality

Despite noble intentions, the Pennsylvania System proved psychologically devastating:

• Prisoners went insane at alarming rates
• Hallucinations were common among long-term inmates
• Suicide attempts increased
• Some prisoners developed catatonic states
• The system was quietly abandoned by the 1870s

By the prison’s closure in 1971, it had housed over 75,000 inmates across 142 years of operation.

Notable Inmates

Al Capone (1929-1930)

The most famous prisoner at Eastern State was Alphonse Gabriel Capone, the notorious Chicago mob boss.

The Arrest: On May 16, 1929, Capone was arrested in Philadelphia for carrying a concealed weapon. It was one of his few convictions—far easier to prove than the murders and racketeering that made him infamous.

The Sentence: Capone received a one-year sentence and served eight months at Eastern State—five years before his more famous imprisonment at Alcatraz.

The Cell: Capone’s cell, located on Park Avenue Block (the prison’s wealthiest corridor), was nothing like other prisoners experienced:

• Fine furniture including rugs and a desk
• A cabinet radio (extraordinary luxury at the time)
• Paintings hung on the walls
• A writing desk with leather chair
• Access to special meals

The mob boss reportedly ran his criminal empire from behind bars through visitors and corrupt guards.

The Ghost of Jimmy

But something else happened in Capone’s cell—something that terrified even the most ruthless gangster in America.

Night after night, Capone was heard screaming in his cell. Guards rushing to investigate found him alone, cowering, begging for someone to leave him alone.

The gangster was tormented by a presence he called “Jimmy.”

Many researchers believe “Jimmy” was the ghost of James Clark, one of the seven men murdered on Capone’s orders in the St. Valentine’s Day Massacre on February 14, 1929—just three months before Capone’s arrest.

The haunting:

• Capone screamed in the middle of the night, pleading with “Jimmy” to go away
• Other prisoners reported hearing him having conversations with someone in his empty cell
• Guards found him alone, terrified, pressed against the wall
• Capone’s valet, Hymie Cornish, confirmed that even at Capone’s Florida estate, the gangster continued to be haunted by “Jimmy”

The séance: So desperate was Capone to rid himself of the spirit that he hired a psychic medium to conduct a séance and banish the ghost. According to accounts, the ritual failed. “Jimmy” followed Capone for the rest of his life.

The specter of the man he ordered killed gave one of America’s most violent criminals no peace—even after death from syphilitic dementia in 1947.

Other Notable Inmates

Willie Sutton — The famous bank robber escaped Eastern State twice, once through a 97-foot tunnel dug from Cellblock 7.

Morris “The Rabbi” Bolber — A Philadelphia murder-for-hire kingpin who killed over 30 people.

Freda Frost — One of the few women housed at Eastern State, convicted of poisoning her husband.

Pep “The Cat-Murdering Dog”

Perhaps the prison’s most unusual inmate was Pep, a black Labrador Retriever. According to legend, Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot had Pep sentenced to life without parole for killing his wife’s cat.

The dog was given inmate number C-2559 and a mugshot.

The truth is likely more benign—Pep was probably donated as a therapy dog. But the legend persists, and some visitors report hearing dog tags jangling through empty cellblocks and occasional ghostly howls at night.

The Crumbling Years

Closure and Decay

Eastern State Penitentiary closed on April 3, 1971. The prisoners were transferred to newer facilities, and the massive Gothic structure was abandoned.

For over two decades, the prison sat empty:

• Trees grew through cellblock roofs
• Walls collapsed
• Cells filled with debris
• Nature reclaimed the fortress

The decay created an atmosphere of profound unease—a perfect setting for the spirits many believe never left.

Reopening

In 1994, Eastern State reopened as a museum and historic site. But those who entered to restore and preserve the prison encountered something unexpected:

Reports began immediately.

The Hauntings

Cellblock 12

The most active location in the prison. Visitors and staff report:

• Cackling, maniacal laughter echoing through empty cells
• Disembodied voices murmuring conversations
• Footsteps on catwalks when no one is present
• Dark shadow figures darting between cells
• Unexplained cold spots

Cellblock 6

• Shadow figures sliding along the walls
• The sensation of being watched
• Unexplained movement caught in peripheral vision
• Faces appearing in and around cell doorways
• Feelings of intense dread

Cellblock 4

• Apparitions of prisoners visible in cells
• The sounds of prisoners moving about
• Whispered voices
• The sense of unseen crowds

The Guard Tower

• Silhouettes of guards no longer stationed there
• Footsteps on metal stairs
• The feeling of being observed from above

The Locksmith’s Experience

One of the most famous encounters occurred with prison locksmith Gary Johnson.

While repairing a 140-year-old lock in Cellblock 4, Johnson felt what he described as an invisible force—a hand—grab him and hold him in place. He described the grip as impossibly strong, the sensation absolutely real.

When he finally pulled free, he turned to see shadowy, tortured faces emerging from the cell walls, their mouths open as if screaming silently.

Johnson, a skeptic before that day, never doubted the prison was haunted afterward.

Paranormal Investigations

Television Coverage

Eastern State has become one of the most investigated paranormal locations in America:

• Ghost Hunters (SyFy) — The team’s investigation yielded compelling evidence, including experiences that convinced even skeptical investigators
• Ghost Adventures (Travel Channel) — Multiple episodes featuring dramatic encounters
• BuzzFeed Unsolved — Popular investigation segment
• MTV’s Fear — Featured the prison in its reality competition
• Numerous documentaries exploring the site’s history and hauntings

Common Evidence Captured

Paranormal investigators at Eastern State have documented:

EVPs (Electronic Voice Phenomena):

• Voices saying “Help me”
• Moaning and screaming
• What sounds like prisoners calling out numbers
• Whispered conversations

Visual Evidence:

• Shadow figures on video
• Unexplained lights
• Shapes forming in empty cells
• Orbs of light

Equipment Anomalies:

• EMF detectors spiking in specific cells
• Temperature drops of 20+ degrees
• Fresh batteries draining instantly
• Equipment turning on and off spontaneously

The Death Row Block

The former death row section generates particularly intense reports:

• The sense of overwhelming despair
• Apparitions of condemned prisoners
• The sound of metal doors slamming
• Screams with no source

Theories and Explanations

Why So Haunted?

Several factors may explain Eastern State’s intense paranormal activity:

Suffering: Over 142 years, tens of thousands of prisoners experienced profound psychological torment. The isolation, the silence, the slow descent into madness—the walls absorbed generations of suffering.

Death: While executions occurred elsewhere, prisoners died at Eastern State from illness, violence, and suicide. The exact number is unknown, but it was substantial.

Unfinished Business: Many prisoners died before completing their sentences, their crimes unpunished or justice incomplete. Some believe these souls remain trapped.

Architectural Design: The Gothic architecture, the hub-and-spoke design, and the deteriorated condition may create acoustical anomalies that produce seemingly supernatural sounds.

The Skeptical View

Skeptics propose:

• The crumbling architecture creates natural sounds
• Suggestion and atmosphere influence perception
• Commercial interests benefit from paranormal claims
• Pattern recognition creates apparitions from shadows
• The prison’s famous history predisposes visitors to report experiences

The Prison’s Position

Eastern State Penitentiary neither confirms nor denies that the building is haunted. Staff acknowledge the reports while maintaining historical accuracy about the prison’s documented past.

Eastern State Today

Daytime Tours

The prison offers several tour options:

• Audio tours narrated by Steve Buscemi
• Guided tours exploring history and architecture
• Behind-the-walls tours of normally closed areas
• Photography tours for serious photographers

Terror Behind the Walls

Each fall, Eastern State transforms into one of America’s largest haunted house attractions:

• Multiple haunted houses within the prison
• Professional actors and elaborate sets
• Tens of thousands of visitors annually
• One of Philadelphia’s most popular Halloween events

The line between the staged scares and the allegedly real hauntings becomes blurred during these events, with some visitors—and actors—reporting experiences that weren’t part of the show.

Overnight Investigations

For serious paranormal investigators, Eastern State offers:

• Overnight investigation packages
• Access to normally restricted cellblocks
• Use of professional paranormal equipment
• Expert guides familiar with the building’s hot spots

These events regularly sell out months in advance.

Visiting Eastern State

Practical Information

Location: 2027 Fairmount Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19130

Hours: Open daily with seasonal variations

Accessibility: The prison is partially wheelchair accessible, though many areas have uneven surfaces and narrow doorways

What to Expect

Visitors should be prepared for:

• An atmospheric, crumbling structure
• Cold temperatures in winter (the building is not heated)
• Uneven floors and potential trip hazards
• Emotional reactions to the history
• And perhaps… something more

Assessment

Historical Significance

Whatever one believes about ghosts, Eastern State Penitentiary represents:

• A landmark in penological history
• An architectural marvel
• A cautionary tale about isolation and punishment
• A preserved glimpse into America’s past

Paranormal Significance

For those who believe in the paranormal, Eastern State offers:

• One of the most consistently active locations in America
• Well-documented phenomena over decades
• Multiple witness categories (staff, visitors, investigators)
• A compelling theory for why spirits might remain

The Enduring Mystery

Al Capone—a man responsible for countless deaths—was himself haunted by a ghost. The irony is not lost on visitors who walk the same cellblocks, past the same crumbling walls, through the same shadows.

If any place could hold the spirits of the tormented dead, it would be this Gothic fortress where thousands suffered in silence, alone with their thoughts, their guilt, and perhaps something else that never left when the prison closed its doors.

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For 142 years, Eastern State Penitentiary imprisoned the bodies and minds of those society wanted to forget. But the forgotten don’t always stay silent. In the echoing cellblocks of America’s most famous prison, something still walks—and waits.