The fortress-like prison in Philadelphia have 30-foot walls that go underground. Built in 1830, it was the world’s first purpose-built prison meant to deprive people of freedom as a form of punishment. Jails before this were just holding pens for people waiting for their sentences which might be flogging, hanging, or by pillory.
Many of the cell locks are completely open for visits, including death row where prisoners awaited execution by electric chair. Being the largest prison in the world for a few decades, notable inmates like Al Capone were once incarcerated here. By the 1940s, it became a maximum security facility.
The audioguide includes the real voices of former inmates and visitors are invited to explore every exhibition panel with the audioguide expanding on the display. The free audioguide makes for an extremely efficient visit as visitors can look and listen at the same time, more historic sites should do this.
Bring some sturdy walking shoes.
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