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It was inspired by a jail -

The Eastern State Penitentiary was inspired by the Walnut Street Jail in Philadelphia. More specifically, by the cells of the new Penitentiary House added to the jail in 1790.

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It was inspired by a jail -

The 6-by-8 feet (183-by-244 cm) cells were used for solitary confinement as a form of punishment, and not quite for serving a long-term sentence. But being one of the first prisons in the US, it was used as a model.

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System -

The Pennsylvania Prison Society (PPS) was responsible for creating what became known as the Pennsylvania system, which consisted of solitary confinement, the development of a trade skill, and religious instruction.

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Building -

Problems with overcrowding and cell size at the Walnut Street Jail made it hard to implement the Pennsylvania system, so a new building was built to implement it.

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Construction -

The construction for the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia was given the green light on March 20, 1821.

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Budget -

The budget for the new penitentiary was US$100,000, though the final cost, when it was completed in 1836 was nearly $780,000 (the equivalent of around $25 million in today’s money).

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First inmate -

Eighteen-year-old black farmer Charles Williams was the first inmate to be locked up in the Eastern State Penitentiary in October 1829.

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First inmate -

Williams served two years of solitary confinement for stealing a gold watch, among other things.

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Innovative design -

English-born American architect John Haviland’s radial design consisted of seven cell blocks stretching from the center and 76 cells in each block. The cells’ stone walls were 18-inches (45.72-cm) thick.

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Cells -

The cells were 12-by-8 feet, and were designed with solitary confinement in mind. Inmates would be allowed one hour of exercise in the yard per day.

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Trade skills -

Inmates would have to learn trade skills and would end up making shoes, chairs, or textile products in their cells. In addition to work, solitary confinement, and yard time, inmates also had to attend religious services.

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Punishment -

Physical and mental punishments were harsh for those breaking the rules at the Eastern State Penitentiary. Straitjackets were often used, but those incarcerated were also subject to torture.

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Water torture -

Chaining inmates to a chair or wall and pouring cold water over them was a common punishment tactic used at the Eastern State Penitentiary.

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"Iron Gag" -

One punishment called for a piece named the “iron gag” to be placed in the inmate’s mouth, with the chains then tied to the convict's hands behind their back. As the hands lowered from fatigue, the inmates would choke.

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Death -

One inmate, Mathias Maccumsey, actually died on June 27, 1833 as a result of the iron gag. An investigation was launched, which resulted in Warden Samuel R. Wood and other officers being accused of torture. But in the end, they were all acquitted by the investigative committee.

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Tourist attraction -

The Eastern State Penitentiary is today a tourist attraction, but it has attracted visitors ever since the 19th century. In fact, it was arguably the biggest tourist attraction in Philadelphia.

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Charles Dickens wrote about it -

The famous English writer put down on paper a few words about solitary confinement in the Eastern State Penitentiary. He wrote: "He sees the prison-officers, but with that exception, he never looks upon a human countenance, or hears a human voice. He is a man buried alive; to be dug out in the slow round of years; and in the meantime dead to everything but torturing anxieties and horrible despair."

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(In)famous inmates -

Many high-profile criminals were incarcerated in the Eastern State Penitentiary over the years. These include bank robber William Francis Sutton, aka Slick Willie.

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(In)famous inmates -

Another very infamous criminal to be locked up at the Eastern State Penitentiary was Al Capone.

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Al Capone -

The mobster spent less than a year behind bars at the world’s first penitentiary. Pictured is his cell at the Eastern State Penitentiary, which was notably more luxurious than the other inmates’ cells.

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Escapee -

Leo Callahan was the only inmate who managed to successfully escape the Eastern State Penitentiary. He did so in 1923, with five other men. All of whom were caught, except for Callahan, who was never seen again.

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Overcrowding -

There were an average of 250 people incarcerated in the early years, but the number skyrocketed to over 1,000 in the 1900s.

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Overcrowding -

The solution was first to put more people into each cell. But later, underground cells known as the "Klondike" were built. These had no windows or plumbing.

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Canine inmate -

On August 31, 1924, a new inmate was locked up at the Eastern State Penitentiary. His name was Pep, and he was a dog. Pep was sentenced to life for reportedly killing the cat of Pennsylvania Governor Gifford Pinchot’s wife.

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Canine inmate -

The incarceration made the news, causing indignation beyond US borders. But Pep did spend two years in the Eastern State Penitentiary before being transferred to the State Correctional Institution — Graterford, where he remained until his death.

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Prison revolts -

Though most inmates were in solitary confinement, they managed to communicate using handwritten notes passed through the plumbing system. This allowed for a number of revolts to be organized, the first one in the 1840s.

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Prison revolts -

Another riot took place in 1933, which was then followed by the largest of them all (involving 800 inmates) on January 8, 1961.

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Rename and closure -

In the 1950s, the penitentiary was renamed as the State Correctional Institution — Philadelphia, but it eventually closed its doors in 1971.

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Tourist site -

The Eastern State Penitentiary officially opened its doors to the public as a museum in 1991. It remains a popular tourist destination and Halloween hotspot to this day.

See also: Celebrities who´ve done prison time

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