The Eastern State Penitentiary

The Eastern State Penitentiary was the first of its kind. Opening on October 25th, 1829, the penitentiary introduced a new system of incarceration known as the “Pennsylvania System” or “Separate System”. According to this new form, inmates lived in solitary confinement, with the exception of receiving daily visits from the warden. It was believed that environment dictated behavior. Therefore, it was thought that if inmates were confined to a single cell, with limited interaction with others, they would change their ways and become penitent for their actions. Many precautions where taken to keep the prisoners in solitude, some included keeping masks on all the inmates along with feeding doors on their cells and even their own exercise gardens. Whatever was needed to have the least amount of contact.

The Eastern State Penitentiary held many criminals; none more famous then Alphonse “Scarface” Capone. Al Capone served eight months at Eastern State in 1929-1930. He was arrested outside a movie theater for carrying a concealed, unlicensed .38 caliber revolver. The Philadelphia courts gave him the maximum sentence of one year in prison. Capone lived what many other prisoners would consider a luxurious stay while in prison. Al Capone had fine furniture, oriental rugs, oil paintings and a fancy radio all in his cell.

The Penitentiary was seen as a marvel for many other institutions, with extraordinary architectural systems like heated cells, state of the art plumbing and sewage systems. The Prison is thought of as a model, which was used throughout the world. But many people such a Charles Dickens who made visits to the prison believed that the prisoners where being treated very cruelly and that it was “strict and hopeless solitary confinement…”

In 1945, Pennsylvania legislature recommends abandoning Eastern State Penitentiary and with one of the largest riots happening in 1961, plans to close the institution begin. In 1970 the building is closed and since then there have been many ideas for the large abandon historic building now owned by the City of Philadelphia. Today one of its most popular uses occurs every year during the fall as their haunted ghost tours. The Penitentiary also sees more than 10,000 visitors years for its historical tours and you may have also seen its use in the 1995 movie 12 Monkeys with Brad Pitt.

Blog created by Karen Montross and Michael Chamberlain

and Group 1 Historical Philadelphia

Works Cited:

"History Timeline." Eastern State Penitentiary. Ed. Francis X. Dolan.

Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site, Inc., 2007.

Web. 20 Feb. 2010. http://www.easternstate.org

The Ben Franklin Parkway

While venturing through Historical Philadelphia, you will most likely come across the mile long road way that crosses through the city's grid plan starting from City Hall to the Museum of Art. This grand road that connect some of the city's most well known buildings was originally named The Fairmount Parkway, but was changed to The Ben Franklin Parkway in 1937 to honor the city's most celebrated son.

The Development of the parkway was long process that took place during most of the 20th century. And although the construction took longer than hoped, the finished project represented the urban challenges of the "city beautiful movement" that many other American city's were trying to accomplish

Plans for the Parkway first constructed of grander ideas including a new Episcopal Cathedral, along with new campuses for Temple University and The University of Pennsylvania. But a more formal design by Jacgues Greber was used. So now, the parkway you see today is lined with a large amount of scientific, cultural and education institutes including...

The Free Library of Philadelphia

The Free Library of Philadelphia serves as Philadelphia's public library system. Pioneered by Dr. William Pepper in 1891, he cultivated his ideas of a general library free to everyone. The Central Library opened in January of 1927 and with much expansion, today the library houses over six million collection ranging from reading materials to music. In addition, the library's education facility broadens as it offers numerous programs such as the Adult Basic Education Program. The service provides adults with the opportunity to take pre G.E.D and G.E.D courses.

The Benjamin Franklin Institute

Founded by Samuel Vaughan Merric and William H. Keating in 1824 in memory of Benjamin Franklin. The institution commemorates Franklin's desire to learn about science and technology. BY January of 1934, the Franklin Institute Science Museum opened and became one of the first science museums in the United States to focus on projects and exhibitions that incorporated physical interactions in learning the fundamentals of science and technology. By May of 1990, the institution expanded with the addition of the The Mandell Center, The Tuttleman IMAX Theater, and the Musser Theater. The centers tremendously enhanced interactive programs and the viewing of IMAX films. In 2005, one of the most memorable exhibits was featured, called Body Worlds, and this exhibit showcased the complex inner workings of the human body in dramatic poses. The popularity of the event led to Body Worls 2 & the Brain, which discusses the body in addition to new discoveries and teachings about the functioning of the brain. This exhibit led to the first specialized presentation of the brain in Philadelphia.

City Hall

Philadelphia City Hall is used to facilitate many state government functions. The building once stood as the tallest building in the world in the early 1900's, but today, its the fifteenth tallest building in Pennsylvania. The area hosts many festivities such as an event known as Christmas Village in Philadelphia. Running from Thanksgiving Day through Christmas Eve, This event attracted over 100,00 visitors in the past with musical performances, bright lights, and a tree lighting ceremony. Influenced by German Christmas market traditions, this event also gives the city a different cultural experience while celebrating festive holidays. Towards the west side of City Hall is Love Park, which was built during the 1960's and became a popular site for skateboarders. Due to street skateboarder's infatuation with this area, Philadelphia became the only city to host ESPN's X Games for two consecutive years.


The Philadelphia Museum of Art

Located at the end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway, its striking appearance captivates much attention. The museum's preliminary ideas came about during the 1870's when an act from the Pennsylvania State Legislature called for a "memorial Hall." A few years later, the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art collaborated in order to construct a museum of art. Construction began around 1919 and the first section of the Philadelphia Museum of Fine Art opened to the public in 1928. Today, there are over 200 galleries holding over 225,00 pieces of art work. Some of the most notable pieces of art are housed in these galleries. Such as Van Gogh's "Sunflowers," Picasso's "Three Musicians," and the large "Bathers" by Cezanne. The museum's architectural design reflects that of a Greek temple but in large proportions is seen as Roman design.

Logan Circle

At the end of the parkway, in front of the Museum of Art is the large pasture called Logans Circle. In the center of the circle are two promanent statues, one being the Swann Memorial Fountain. Designed by Alexander Stirling in honor of Dr. Wilson Carry Swann, founder of the Philadelphia Fountain Society. The fountain is meant to have Native American figures symbolizing the area's major local waterways: The Delaware River, The Schuylkill River, and Wissahickon Creek.