Tucked in between Cellblocks 1and 9 near the Center of Eastern State Penitentiary is a small cluster of rooms.  Designed and built in the 1880’s by Warden Michael Cassidy to be his office, the rooms were eventually used by the penitentiary’s chaplains. The Catholic Chaplain’s Office, with its religious and prison-themed murals, is the most evocative and distinctive part of this space.

Restoring and opening the Catholic Chaplain’s Office, with its inmate-painted murals has long been our goal.  This intimate space with its fascinating history tell a compelling story of the spiritual life of a significant population throughout the prison’s history – its Catholic inmates.

The small, sunny Solarium above Eastern State Penitentiary’s hospital block tells the story of a prison system struggling to keep a deadly disease under control. 

But the Solarium is in dire shape.  Its severely leaking roof threatens not only the Solarium’s future, but the future of the entire Hospital block below.  To lose either of these grand architectural spaces would be a terrible loss.  Together they present the perfect place to host exhibits on medical treatment inside prisons, the evolving technology and standards of treatment, even the return of widespread tuberculosis outbreaks in prisons today.

There are a surprising number of “eyewitnesses” to Eastern State Penitentiary’s history, but time is running out to preserve their memories.

Interviews with former inmates, guards, and staff are essential to understanding what day-to-day life was like at the prison. We have recorded the stories of some of these eyewitnesses, but more than two hundred remain.

Critical stabilization of exterior walls, waterproofing and restoration of roof and skylights, and selective conservation of interior masonry, plasterwork and furnishings. Preservation of this unique site will allow for its interpretation and inclusion into the visitor tour route.

A careful archeological investigation of the famous 1945 escape tunnel.

Stabilization of the concrete base and restoration of the roofing structure of the Penitentiary greenhouse.

Critical stabilization of the roofs over the Operating and Recovery rooms, protecting these important spaces and allowing for the future restoration and interpretation of the Hospital Block.

Critical stabilization of a free-standing building on the western side of the complex. The building offers both conference and exhibit space, and holds income potential through rentals.

Replacing the roofs over the Rotunda and the links to each of the original seven cellblocks.

Dramatic new lighting illuminating the Penitentiary's 30 foot high half mile long perimeter wall. The lights highlight Eastern State's forbidding façade every night.

In May of 2002, Helen K. Diemer, FIALD and the design team from The Lighting Practice won an Illumination Design Award from the Philadelphia Section of the Illuminating Engineering Society for the lighting of Eastern State Penitentiary.

Funded by: Commonwealth Department of Community and Economic Development ($250,000), 2000 Halloween Fundraiser ($50,000)

Improvements throughout the site to prepare for an enhanced Terror Behind the Walls event, with greater fundraising potential. Including a new Green Room for actors (asbestos abatement, $6,700; roofing stabilization, $8,450; masonry repairs $4,050;) perimeter wall stabilization ($2,500), pavement repair ($10,233), handicap ramps ($3,840), drain cleaning ($1,325) and netting for a hard hat free tour ($7,677).

Funded by 2000 Halloween Fundraiser

Restoration and interpretation of two period cells for use on our tour route. The inmates illustrate the ways in which Eastern State changed throughout its 142 year history.

Refurbished the former cell of Al Capone with Art Deco and Victorian furniture popular in the late 1920s.

Third roofing project removed the old metal roofing, evaluated the historic wooden roofing system, replacing deteriorated members, installed a new standing seam lead-coated copper roof, and conserved the historic plasters below. Illustrated the long-range goal of finishing the interior of the building a "stabilized ruin."

Second roofing project placed a new structure over the existing roof, skylights and exercise yard areas. The new roof has twenty-five year EPDM roofing.

First roofing project to repair the substructure and place a 25-year EPDM roof over the historic Administration Building.

Funded by the City of Philadelphia