Thrust into the middle of urban Philadephia is what looks like a great castle, a massive and hauntin
Thrust into the middle of urban Philadephia is what looks like a great castle, a massive and haunting building. Opened in 1829, Eastern State was designed as a new type of prison where order reigned, the world’s first penitentiary. Inmates were served three hearty meals a day, and each cell had a skylight. But despite its material comforts, the penitentiary drove men mad.Known as the “separate system,” part of what made Eastern State unique is that prisoners weren’t allowed to interact with other prisoners or guards in any way. Utter silence, utter solitude. It was meant to inspire penance; instead, it inspired insanity. The prison remained in use until it was abandoned in 1971, and housed such criminal luminaries as Willie Sutton and Al Capone. It’s now left in a state of magnificent decay. : Photo regrammed from intrepid explorer @taireene -- source link
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