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Eastern State Penitentiary was born with a goal in mind – treating criminals in early America in a “more humane” manner. The results of this new prison strategy, though, were a far cry from what its founders intended.
In early post-Revolutionary American history, prisons held accused criminals only until their trials. And many of these spaces were problematic within themselves – with common abuse between inmates and guards.
From there, those convicted faced “public and corporal” punishment.
Over time, prison reform advocates decided there must be another way.
“Some of the founding fathers believed this era of incarceration to be unjust,” said Cari Whittenburg, director of museum programs at Eastern State Penitentiary. “It was hyperviolent; it dealt with a lot of public executions and other types of harsh punishments, and all men and women and children would be put into one room to kind of fend for themselves prior to trial.”
Dr. Benjamin Rush, a founding father and physician, was one of the earliest reformers to suggest a system of incarceration to punish criminals – and the idea of isolation.
In 1787, Rush and a group of Philadelphians formed the Philadelphia Society for Alleviating the Miseries of Public Prisons to address these concerns and entertain Rush’s idea.
The group, driven by Rush, weighed different Quaker, Enlightenment and other ideologies. From there, the idea for Eastern State Penitentiary was born.
“The reformers, including some founding fathers, believed that less harsh punishment and more time for reflection would instill a change in the hearts of inmates,” said Sam Fineman, a Once Upon a Nation storyteller.
It took the group years to convince the government to allocate funds for their idea. But in 1821, the Pennsylvania Legislature shelled out $250,000 for Eastern State.
The unique, new building was created in what is now Fairmount, and in 1829, the facility began hosting prisoners.
Two overriding ideas drove Eastern State’s early strategy: isolation and labor.
“People would come here, serve their time in complete solitude so they could think about and reflect on what they did, and they’d be able to leave and hopefully be able to be productive members of society,” Whittenburg said.
Prisoners each had their own cell blocks, and the facility went as far as hooding inmates when they were moved around the penitentiary to avoid contact or sight of others.
And in their cells, prisoners were expected to do work like shoemaking and weaving.
Early accounts of prison reformers’ conversations suggested they had good intentions in creating this new system.
Inmates were provided with Bibles and visits from Protestant “moral instructors” – but many prisoners refused religion or were unable to read, making many of these advances unhelpful.
And as time went on, opponents of the prison structure began to question the morality of solitary confinement.
“Eastern State’s idea of prison reform kind of broke down and fell apart, because we see solitary confinement is not necessarily the most productive form of incarceration,” she said.
Even Charles Dickens, who visited the facility in 1842, had concerns.
“Dickens once wrote about Eastern State, saying ‘the system is rigid and strict and hopeless, and its effect is cruel and unnecessary,’” said Fineman.
The prison began to evolve — it hired a schoolteacher, allowed prisoners to dine together and its solitary confinement system was officially abandoned in 1913 after years of overcrowding and other issues.
The penitentiary faced several scandals throughout the 20th century – including escapes, riots and protests.
In 1971, the prison officially closed its doors, and until the late 1980s, it sat abandoned.
“The founders really wanted a place that is fixing a system,” Whittenburg said.
This eventually drove the organization’s later strategy.
Eastern State was bought by the city in 1980 and over the next decade, the city’s redevelopment authority and a task force began weighing new uses for the former penitentiary.
In 1988, the Eastern State Task Force, which included architects, preservationists and historians, was formed and the former prison began to host limited group tours of the building.
And in 1991, stabilization and preservation efforts took effect. By 1994, the penitentiary had opened up for daily historic tours and cultural, educational and art events.
Today, the penitentiary serves as a leader in prison reform and criminal justice education. Visitors can explore exhibits, tours, art installations and seasonal programs
“We have all these panels that are free and open to the public, so people can get educated to see what they can do, how they can get involved and how they can understand the system,” Whittenburg said.
She emphasized the organization is always evolving in educating and helping the community.
“We’re really wanting to center justice education for everything we do with the intention that the more awareness that’s spread, the more knowledge we share with the world,” she said.
Cody Stuhltrager created this week’s Firstival poster. He is also an artist-in-residence at the Penitentiary.
“We overuse prisons in this country,” said Cody Stuhltrager, the artist behind this weekend’s Firstival poster. “We use them to treat all kinds of problems, rather than getting to the root cause of these problems.”
He said the penitentiary’s current work tries to educate the public on these kinds of problems – and the holes within the criminal justice system.
He explained his statue aims to show this positive direction – complete with a light at the end of the tunnel for both his own positive life experience post-incarceration and the hope that the penitentiary’s education can help others have the same experience.
This week’s Firstival highlights Eastern State and gives attendees a chance to enjoy live music, participate in art activities, have free museum admission, and more.
It will take place from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Eastern State Penitentiary at 2027 Fairmount Ave.
Below is more info on all of this year’s Firstivals – including where you can find this upcoming Saturday’s Firstival dates and location.
Week 1: Successful balloon flight in America (1793)
Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation’s first folk parade (1901)
Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)
Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)
Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)
Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)
Week 7: Abolitionist society in America (1775)
Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America (1984)
Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America (1688)
Week 10: Flower Show (1829)
Week 11: Women’s medical college (1850)
Week 12: Matchbook (1892)
Week 13: Medical school (1765)
Week 14: Stadium (1895)
Week 15: Circus performance (1793)
Week 16: Botanical garden (1728)
Week 17: Postmaster (1737)
Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone (1775 and 1893)
Week 19: Mother’s Day (1908)
Week 20: Hospital in America (1751)
Week 21: World’s Fair on American soil (1876)
Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight (1787)
Week 23: American flag (1777)
Week 24: U.S. Army (1775)
Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration (1965)
Week 26: Paper maker in America (1690)
Week 27: Bank of the United States (1791)
Week 28: Organized baseball team (1831)
Week 29: Ice cream soda (Oct. 1874)
Week 30: American art school (1805)
Week 31: Scientific Society of Natural History (1812)
Week 31: Zoo in America (1874)
Week 32: U.S. Mint (1793)
Week 33: Selfie (1839)
Week 34: Slinky (1943)
Week 35: Signing of the Constitution (1787)
Week 36: Continental Congress (1774)
Week 37: Naming of the United States (1776)
Week 38: Ronald McDonald House (1974)
• Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.
• The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.
• U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.
• Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.
• Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.
• Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East
• University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.
• Children’s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.
• Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.
• Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.
• Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.
• Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.
• Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.
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