Eastern State Penitentiary’s dark past: paranormal encounters and real facts
142 Years of Terror
Hello friend! Today, I’m excited to tell you about Eastern State Penitentiary. This towering structure, which opened in 1829, was to be a model prison for 300 other jails in the country. I'm not sure about the model part.
But I know this place was full of torture, madness, death, and hopelessness. Many unfortunate prisoners endured great suffering within their dark walls.
I have been through this eerie location several times with my partner, Carlos. The first time I visited, it was a tour. During the day, I walked through winding halls. This place was home to famous criminals. Mobster Al Capone and bank robber Slick Willie Sutton are two notable examples.
A sense of uneasiness crept into my spirit when I entered this place. What makes this experience creepier is that those in charge broke the rules instead of enforcing them. These guards took their entrusted powers and manipulated them into devious acts of human nature that no person can fathom or forgive.
Cold Hard Facts
The prison opened its doors in 1829. Charles Williams, a young Black man from Harrisburg, was its first prisoner. He walked into this place of torment, marking the start of over 100 years of cruel and unjust treatment.
That winter, the authorities assigned seven convicts to solitary confinement. Famous British author Charles Dickens went to visit the prison in 1842. He felt appalled by how they treated the prisoners behind the cold walls.
Mr. Dickens likened the treatment of the prisoners to burying them alive.
In 1970, after a time of riots, the penitentiary closed. It held thousands more prisoners than builders intended. The building remained empty and desolate for many years.
In 1974, Philadelphia's mayor, Frank Rizzo, suggested tearing down the dilapidated building. He proposed building a criminal justice center instead. The Federal Government announced that the prison is a historic landmark. Plans to tear down the property were canceled.
Over time, the building decayed and stayed unused. Philadelphia and several teams aimed to brighten the dim, unsettling halls of this odd place. In 1991, the city joined forces with other groups to restore the prison.
They changed the Eastern State Penitentiary into a museum. They also created a Halloween event called Terror Behind the Walls.
Friends, I don’t think this place needs actors for Halloween. The event I attended was well done without them. Dark energy fills these walls of persecution.
It can send a shiver down your spine, more than any actor ever could. As you walk down these halls of madness, you can feel and sense the presence of something sinister.
My partner Carlos and his mom Janet went through Terror Behind the Walls one Halloween. While Carlos and his mom explored Al Capone's room, they caught sight of a spirit's reflection.
Eastern State Penitentiary Terror Behind The Walls
The space still contains his exquisite furniture from prison, including his radio. We filmed it once, but we never developed the footage. After some time, we lost the camera.
Famous Cast of Inmates
Eastern State Penitentiary held many famous criminals during its 142 years. Notable inmates were mobster Al Capone, bank robber Slick Willie Sutton, and Pep, Governor Gifford Pinchot's dog. Authorities incarcerated Pep for murdering the Governor’s wife’s cat and even assigned him inmate number C-2559. Later, it was discovered that Governor Pinchot gifted the dog to the prison to cheer up the morale of the inmates.
Torture Behind the Walls
The prison aimed to keep inmates in solitary confinement. There was no interaction between prisoners. They stayed isolated in cells with exercise areas, running water, and central heating. Yet, terror was a daily part of life here. Guards meant to keep things safe did the opposite. They created an atmosphere that left inmates feeling terrified. It's clear why the trapped souls of many unfortunate men haunt these corridors. They fell victim to their cruel torturers.
The Haunted Tales of Eastern State Penitentiary
Methods of Torture
Water Bath - Guards dunked prisoners in cold water. Then, they hung on a wall like trash in the freezing winter. Ice formed on their skin.
Mad Chair - This awful method tortured prisoners. Someone bounds them in a chair with such tightness that it cuts off their circulation. They practiced this method with such intensity that they needed amputations.
Iron Gag - This method began by tying the prisoner’s hands behind their back. Then, someone strapped them into an iron collar. Any mouth movements made would cause their tongue to tear and bleed heavily.
The Hole - In a cold, wet hole, prisoners have no light, no contact, and very little air or food. This leaves them feeling hopeless and broken.
Exploring Eastern State Penitentiary: The Dark Secrets of America's Most Haunted Prison
Hauntings of the Eastern State Penitentiary
The prisoners endured harsh treatment in this torture camp. These lost souls roamed the winding halls, searching for hope and freedom. Many here died from madness, murder, or old age.
Their spirits did not receive basic human care. They now wander in pain, holding on to their suffering like a disease.
Eastern State Penitentiary has had many haunting and strange experiences since the 1940s. Some famous inmates, such as Al Capone, have talked about their experiences. Capone claimed he saw a killed inmate.
Visitors have reported seeing shadows, hearing eerie voices, and laughing sounds. They also mention the ghostly appearances of deceased prisoners.
There is also a strong belief that the prison opens a door to a dark spiritual world. With 142 years' worth of madness, torture, disease, and murder, this is not hard to fathom. When dark energy gathers in one spot, the chances of haunting go up a lot.
Many ghost hunters and supernatural investigators have visited Eastern State Penitentiary. They all say the building is haunted. Eastern State Penitentiary has hit the list of one of the most haunted locations in the country.
The prison is a hub of dark forces, but some areas are more active than others. Let us explore some of those below.
Highest Supernatural Activity in Eastern State Penitentiary
Cell Block 12 - Echoing voices and cackling.
Cell Black 6 - Shadowy figures dart across the walls.
Cell Block 4 - Appearances of Ghost Faces.
Many visitors have reported seeing the shadow of a guard in one of the towers.
Along with the footsteps, wails, and whispers, we have a report from Gary Johnson. He oversaw the building's locks. In the early 1990s, Mr. Johnson said that while he opened a lock in cell block 4, something seized his arm with a firm grip.
He couldn’t move at all. He felt a negative, horrible energy bursting out of the cell. There were tortured faces on the wall, and even one of those appearances beckoned him to come to it.
Friends, there sure is a lot of documented proof here about this old building. Once a prison of torture, this place now holds countless spirits.
Visitors feel an eerie presence they won't forget. There’s no doubt this site is a hub of supernatural activity.
Visitors share similar experiences in Cell Block 10. They hear strange whispers and unexplained sounds. Some even capture ghostly images on camera.
People who walked through Cell Block 3 reported feeling a chill running down their spines. The atmosphere is heavy with sadness and fear. Others saw apparitions of former inmates in the corridors.
Eastern State Penitentiary: Ghosts of the Past
Other Haunting Facts
Experiences like these make Eastern State Penitentiary a hotspot for paranormal activity. Many have captured unexplained sounds and images on camera. They sense strong emotions like fear and anger.
The energy is so thick you can almost touch it. Others get weird feelings like being watched or touched. Doors slam shut on their own. Keys jingle, even when no one is around.
Others have seen shadowy figures darting around corners. Some prisoners who lived here long ago still roam the halls. Their whispers echo through the corridors.
Many tourists have seen ghostly figures out of the corner of their eye. These spirits seem stuck in time, reliving the horrors they faced. The air is thick with the weight of history, where brutal treatment and harsh living conditions once reigned.
It's no wonder their restless spirits linger, seeking justice or solace. As you walk the penitentiary's dimly lit corridors, you might glimpse the past, where time stands still and the line between reality and the paranormal blurs.
If you hear cries for help or feel a chill running down your spine it is not your imagination. Some visitors even claim to have seen ghostly figures out of the corner of their eyes. Who knows, you might even see the ghost of a former prisoner or guard.
Visitors often feel cold spots throughout the prison. The smell of rot and decay lingers in the air. Prisoners once suffered in these very cells, and their spirits remain trapped. Some have even seen ghostly apparitions in the corridors.
These spirits seem to be reenacting their past sufferings. They are stuck in time, reliving the pain and fear they felt when they were alive. The atmosphere is thick with sorrow and dread.
Interested in Touring the Eastern State Penitentiary?
Curious to know more? Eastern State Penitentiary offers tours all the time. For more information check out their website here and tell me what you think.
Then old spirits of deceased people that don’t want to let go, be the WORST!