Eastern State Penitentiary was built as a monastic experience. Originally designed to house 250 prisoners on the outskirts of Philadelphia, it opened in 1829. The prisoners were kept separate. They weren’t allowed to speak. Their single hour of daily recreation took place in the tiny private yard behind each cell, surrounded by tall walls so they wouldn’t encounter another person. Their meals were passed through a small slot in the door. Prisoners were given a single book. A Bible. The […]

Categories: Blog • Tags: abandoned, Eastern State, incarceration, justice, overcrowding, penitence, Penitentiary, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, prison, recidivism, ruin