27 photos show the creepy remains of an abandoned prison where some of the most notorious American gangsters served time

Frank OlitoAug 15, 2020, 00:37 IST

The prison cells at Eastern State Penitentiary are abandoned.Frank Olito/ INSIDER

Eastern State Penitentiary is a 9.8-acre abandoned prison in Philadelphia.
Last year, I took a tour of the ruins and walked through the former cell blocks, prison cells, and offices.
Along the way, I learned about the prison's brutal history and its turn toward a more social environment.
In the end, the crumbling facades, rotting walls, and haunted history are what creeped me out the most.

The Eastern State Penitentiary looms over Philadelphia like an ominous fortress.

The first time I visited the city was in 2019, and I was struck by the abandoned prison's dark force as my family drove past. Once a prominent prison for famous inmates, today Eastern State is abandoned but does offer daily tours for $16.

After finally making my way to tour the prison and spending three hours inside its walls, I left with goosebumps. This is what it's like inside the now-abandoned Eastern State Penitentiary.

I sheepishly walked up to the Eastern State Penitentiary, awestruck by its size and architecture.

The entrance to the Eastern State Penitentiary. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

When the prison was built in 1829, it was on the outskirts of Philadelphia. But the city expanded around the prison walls, so it now stands awkwardly within the metropolis.

The structure is located deep in the city. Google Maps

When the prison was built in 1829, it was on the outskirts of Philadelphia. But the city expanded around the prison walls, so it now stands awkwardly within the metropolis.

The fortress-like architecture was meant to scare people away and keep prisoners inside its walls. In fact, the towers and windows on the exterior are not functional and are all for show.

The exterior of the Eastern State Penitentiary. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

The fortress-like architecture was meant to scare people away and keep prisoners inside its walls. In fact, the towers and windows on the exterior are not functional and are all for show.

Once I stepped through the main lobby, I was given a map of the premises and learned about the intricate layout of the inner prison.

The layout of the original prison. Mike Graham from Portland, USA/ Wikimedia Commons

Inmates would enter the prison through this hallway and go through the intake process.

Intake hallway. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

At the end of the hallway is an open room with vaulted ceilings.

The end of the hallway. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

At the center of the prison is this room, which was designed to give a view straight down each cell block.

Center of the Eastern State Penitentiary. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

Stepping into cell block one, I was instantly transported back to the 1800s.

A cell block. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

The doors seen in the cell block today were actually installed much later. When the prison first opened, these doors were actually just small openings to pass food through so the inmate could live in solitude.

A cell door at Eastern State Penitentiary. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

The doors seen in the cell block today were actually installed much later. When the prison first opened, these doors were actually just small openings to pass food through so the inmate could live in solitude.

For 23 hours a day, the only light inmates saw light came through a small window in the ceiling.

Frank Olito/ INSIDER

For one hour each day, inmates could walk through the door at the back of their cell and enter an enclosed space with an open roof.

The door at the back wall led to their outdoor space. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

Most inmates did not interact with another person — other than guards — until they completed their sentence.

Jail cell at Eastern State Penitentiary. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

This system of isolation as a correctional practice became known as the Pennsylvania System.

A jail cell at Eastern State Penitentiary. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

I stepped inside one of the jail cells and the walls instantly felt as if they were closing in on me. I could not imagine staying in one for 23 hours straight.

Inside one of the jail cells. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

In 1913, the Pennsylvania System was abandoned and the isolation practices ended.

Two beds in one cell. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

As the years went on, inmate life began to emphasize socialization. For example, prisoners were eating together in the dining halls by 1924.

The dining hall. Buyenlarge/ Getty

Inmates were even allowed to hang out in barbershops, which were located in almost every cell block. Today, the rooms are empty.

The empty barbershop. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

There was also a synagogue on the premises so inmates could gather with people who practiced similar faiths.

The synagogue. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

But violence could also be part of the day-to-day. Sometimes there were fights, riots, and even killings.

Guards used this mirror. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

It became increasingly difficult to control the inmates as the number of prisoners began to increase over the years.

A cell block. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

To accommodate the growing inmate population, the prison built more cell blocks.

A cell block at the prison. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

In all, the Eastern State held 80,000 inmates throughout its time in operation, and some of those prisoners were famous.

A jail cell at the prison. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

Al Capone was one of the best-known inmates to have served time in the prison.

Al Capone's jail cell. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

While Capone's cell is refurbished, the rest of the prison still eerily stands in ruins.

A cell block. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

From crumbling ceilings ...

A ceiling in a cell block. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

... to the broken furniture, the entire prison felt like it was haunted — not with ghosts, but with its dark past.

Broken cabinets in an office. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

As my tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary came to an end, I was left with a chilling feeling.

The second floor of a cell block. Frank Olito/ INSIDER

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27 photos show the creepy remains of an abandoned prison where some of the most notorious American gangsters served time

I sheepishly walked up to the Eastern State Penitentiary, awestruck by its size and architecture.

When the prison was built in 1829, it was on the outskirts of Philadelphia. But the city expanded around the prison walls, so it now stands awkwardly within the metropolis.

The fortress-like architecture was meant to scare people away and keep prisoners inside its walls. In fact, the towers and windows on the exterior are not functional and are all for show.

Once I stepped through the main lobby, I was given a map of the premises and learned about the intricate layout of the inner prison.

Inmates would enter the prison through this hallway and go through the intake process.

At the end of the hallway is an open room with vaulted ceilings.

At the center of the prison is this room, which was designed to give a view straight down each cell block.

Stepping into cell block one, I was instantly transported back to the 1800s.

The doors seen in the cell block today were actually installed much later. When the prison first opened, these doors were actually just small openings to pass food through so the inmate could live in solitude.

For 23 hours a day, the only light inmates saw light came through a small window in the ceiling.

For one hour each day, inmates could walk through the door at the back of their cell and enter an enclosed space with an open roof.

Most inmates did not interact with another person — other than guards — until they completed their sentence.

This system of isolation as a correctional practice became known as the Pennsylvania System.

I stepped inside one of the jail cells and the walls instantly felt as if they were closing in on me. I could not imagine staying in one for 23 hours straight.

In 1913, the Pennsylvania System was abandoned and the isolation practices ended.

As the years went on, inmate life began to emphasize socialization. For example, prisoners were eating together in the dining halls by 1924.

Inmates were even allowed to hang out in barbershops, which were located in almost every cell block. Today, the rooms are empty.

There was also a synagogue on the premises so inmates could gather with people who practiced similar faiths.

But violence could also be part of the day-to-day. Sometimes there were fights, riots, and even killings.

It became increasingly difficult to control the inmates as the number of prisoners began to increase over the years.

To accommodate the growing inmate population, the prison built more cell blocks.

In all, the Eastern State held 80,000 inmates throughout its time in operation, and some of those prisoners were famous.

Al Capone was one of the best-known inmates to have served time in the prison.

While Capone's cell is refurbished, the rest of the prison still eerily stands in ruins.

From crumbling ceilings ...

... to the broken furniture, the entire prison felt like it was haunted — not with ghosts, but with its dark past.

As my tour of the Eastern State Penitentiary came to an end, I was left with a chilling feeling.