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November 25, 2024, 10:00 am – December 1, 2024, 5:00 pm
Thanksgiving at ESPHS
Included with admission. November 25 - December 1. (Site closed on Thanksgiving Day, November 28.) Join us for special guided Soup Alley tours that incorporate new research from the Pennsylvania Prison Society about the status of food service throughout the state’s prison system.
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November 29, 2024, 10:00 am – December 20, 2024, 5:00 pm
Holiday Toy & Toiletries Drive
In celebration of this season of giving, Eastern State invites community members to come together and support our neighbors by taking part in a Holiday Toy & Toiletries Drive. Donations will be accepted from November 29 through December 20 and may be dropped off in person or purchased online and shipped to the historic site.
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November 30, 2024, 11:00 am – 11:45 am
November 2024: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion
Included with admission, subject to availability. Purchase tickets online to secure your spot. An Eastern State educator leads a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion in partnership with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter from Hands UP Productions.
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November 30, 2024, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Public Portrait Session with Mark Loughney
Want to be included in "Pyrrhic Defeat"? The artist, Mark Loughney, will be sketching portraits of historic site visitors on Saturday, November 30 from 12 to 4 pm near his piece.
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December 3, 2024, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
RockyFest at ESPHS
As part of the RockyFest celebration, Eastern State will offer special programming on Tuesday, December 3, 2024, to celebrate the history of boxing at Eastern State Penitentiary and in prisons throughout Pennsylvania.
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December 8, 2024, 10:00 am – 5:00 pm
Free Neighbor Day: December 2024
We invite our neighbors residing in the 19130 and 19121 zip codes to visit free of charge every second Sunday of the month. No reservations required!
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December 11, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Justice 101: Fourth Amendment in the Digital Age: Privacy, Policing, and Constitutional Rights
Free. Online. Advance registration required. Join us as we delve into the complexities surrounding the Fourth Amendment's protections against unreasonable searches and seizures in today’s rapidly evolving digital and social landscape.
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December 14, 2024, 11:00 am – 2:15 pm
Virtual Scout Day: Architecture
$17 per participant. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about Eastern State's history, the penitentiary's unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.
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December 21, 2024, 10:00 am – January 5, 2025, 5:00 pm
Winter Break: Compassion & Charity
Included with admission. December 21 - January 5. (Site closed on December 24, December 25, & January 1.) Visiting Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site (ESPHS) during your winter holiday break? Engage with special programming including a pop-up exhibit, Mini Tours, artist talk and more — all of which highlight the important role compassion and charity played at Eastern State and in prisons today.
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December 27, 2024, 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm
Public Tour with Artist Talk
On December 27 at 12 pm, join us at Eastern State Penitentiary Historic Site for a special iteration of our Guide-Led Tour & Discussion featuring a Q&A with Mark Loughney.
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December 28, 2024, 11:00 am – 11:45 am
December 2024: ASL Guide-Led Tour and Discussion
Included with admission, subject to availability. Purchase tickets online to secure your spot. An Eastern State educator leads a Guide-Led Tour and Discussion in partnership with an ASL (American Sign Language) interpreter from Hands UP Productions.
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December 28, 2024, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm
Public Portrait Session with Mark Loughney
Want to be included in "Pyrrhic Defeat"? The artist, Mark Loughney, will be sketching portraits of historic site visitors on Saturday, December 28 from 12 to 4 pm near his piece.
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January 23, 2025
Justice 101: The Evolution of Civil Rights: Criminal Justice Reform and Mass Incarceration
Free. Online. Advance registration required. Join us as we explore the historical roots and ongoing evolution of civil rights movements, with a particular focus on criminal justice reform and mass incarceration in America.
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February 20, 2025
Justice 101: Is Freedom of the Press Truly Free Behind Bars? The First Amendment and Journalism in Prison
Free. Online Join us as we discuss the complex and often contentious relationship between the First Amendment and journalism within the prison system as well as the broader implications of press freedom in prison for society’s understanding of justice, rehabilitation, and human rights.
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March 27, 2025
Justice 101: The History of Women in Prison and the Legacy of Freedom Fighters
Free. In person - location TBA. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Join us as we explore the complex and often untold history of women in the American prison system, focusing not only on the evolution of female incarceration but also on the legacy of women who fought for freedom and justice from behind bars.
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April 24, 2025
Justice 101: The History of Solitary Confinement in America
Free. In person at Eastern State. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Join us as we discuss the origins of solitary confinement in the United States — beginning with the establishment of the first penitentiaries, explore how the practice shifted over time, and consider the ongoing debate about the role of solitary confinement in the modern prison system. and its use in prisons today.
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April 27, 2025, 10:00 am – 4:30 pm
In-Person Scout Day: Architecture
$21 per person. Advance registration required. BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about the penitentiary's history, its unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.
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May 22, 2025
Justice 101: The Evolution of Capital Punishment and Ongoing Legal Battles
Free. In person – location TBA. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. Join us to explore the contentious and deeply impactful history of the death penalty in America, tracing its origins, evolution, and the modern legal battles that continue to shape its future.
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November 15, 2025, 10:30 am – 4:00 pm
In-Person Scout Day: Architecture
$21 per person. Advance registration required. BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about the penitentiary's history, its unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.
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December 7, 2025, 11:00 am – 2:15 pm
Virtual Scout Day: Architecture
$17 per participant. Online via Zoom. Advance registration required. BSA scouts, GSUSA scouts, and all youth — join us to learn about Eastern State's history, the penitentiary's unique design, the ethics of prison architecture, and careers in architecture and historic preservation.
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