Life behind bars in the 19th century and beyond....

From the Eastern State Penitentiary, Philadelphia, PA. Closed in 1971, it is now a tourist attraction that rivals many other historic sites in the city. Built by the Commonweath of Pennsylvania, it first opened in 1829 with the intention of encouraging penitence in those admitted for crimes. This was a revolutionary new concept supported by Dr. Benjamin Rush, Ben Franklin, and other commonwealth leaders. It was the first ever "Penitentiary". Although the conditions inside would be considered harsh by today's standards, it was a huge advance compared to the prisons of the day where corporeal punishment and abuse were the norm. The design was innovative: Each prisoner had a private cell with central heating, running water, flush toilet, a skylight and a door leading to a central exercise yard. Thus, the early leaders of Pennsylvania demonstrated concern for fellow humans, even those who broke laws and committed crimes. Their progressive view was that positive change and personal insight - and penitence - were helped, not hindered, by humane conditions for those incarcerated.

Early on, inmates were prevented from interacting with other inmates. This "forced monastic" existence was criticized by many thought leaders and was eventually abandoned. A variety of group activities including sports, an inmate newsletter, and worship services were gradually introduced. Due to ignorance of its cause, mechanism of spread, and the lack of effective treatments until later in the 20th century, tuberculosis was the most common cause of death for those confined.

This is one of the most widely photographed places in Philadelphia and has been used by filmmakers for several movies. Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site Inc. manages the facility. As of this date, several areas of the penitentiary are not open to the public because of safety issues. Further work is planned to open for public view the infirmary, kitchen and other aspects of penitentiary operations. It is my hope to return and photograph these areas when possible. Thank you for reading and viewing.
March 2016