Eastern State Penitentiary opened in 1829 as the first solitary-confinement prison. Prisoners were alone at all times, and when inmates were transported, they were even covered with hoods so they could not see any other inmates. The solitary confinement is believed to have driven prisoners crazy. Overcrowding soon ended the solitary system.
The most notable inmate was Al Scarface Capone, serving time in his first sentence from 1929 to 1930. Prison time in Eastern State was easy for Capone, who had an oriental rug, radio, and other fine features in his room. Famous bank robbers William Francis Sutton and William Blackie Zupkoski also spent time here.
Since the penitentiary was abandoned in 1971, rumors of footsteps, eerie noises, and ominous orbs swirled. Paranormal television shows such as Syfy's Ghost Hunters and MTV's Fear have investigated the prison.
Visitors can now view the gloomy cells throughout the year during daytime tours and via a special Terror Behind the Walls Halloween haunted house. You can schedule a tour at the Eastern State Penitentiary's official Web site.
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