City Breaks, Shopping, Dining & Nightlife
Eastern State Penitentiary
Opened in 1829 as part of a controversial movement to change the behaviour of inmates through confinement in solitude with labour, Eastern State Penitentiary quickly became one of the most expensive and most copied buildings in the United States. Located right in the centre of Philadelphia, in the Fairmount Neighborhood, some of America's most notorious criminals were held here including bank robber Willie Sutton and Al Capone. After 142 years of consecutive use, Eastern State Penitentiary was completely abandoned in 1971 and now stands a lost world of crumbling cellblocks and empty guard towers.
Many people believe that Eastern State Penitentiary is haunted. As early as the 1940s, officers and inmates reported mysterious visions and eerie experiences in the ancient prison. And the ghost sightings have only increased since Eastern State was abandoned in 1971.
What a perfect place to host
one of America’s
best ever haunted events!
Terror Behind the Walls runs from September through November each year in honour of Halloween. The tour starts with Intake and visitors enjoy a glimpse into real prison life from the delousing chamber to the warden’s office with a few surprises along the way.
"I've never come across anything quite like Terror Behind the Walls. [It's] like fear on steroids. You know, the kind of fear that follows you home and takes up permanent residence in your psyche." Visitor 2008.
If having the wits scared out of you isn’t your idea of fun, but you are still intrigued by the prison, daytime tours are available every day apart from major holidays.
Call Bon Voyage to discuss your break to Philadelphia.
